Alfred Clive Hulme

He led counterattacks to protect retreating troops on Crete.

Alfred Clive Hulme VC, known as Clive, was a New Zealand soldier decorated for sustained bravery during the Battle of Crete in May 1941. Born in Dunedin on 24 January 1911, he attended Eastern Hutt School and worked as a farm labourer in Nelson. He enlisted on 22 January 1940 and joined the 23rd Battalion, Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. His battalion initially went to Britain before joining the New Zealand Division in 1941.

As a sergeant on Crete, Hulme led attacks against German paratroopers near Maleme airfield on 20–21 May. At Galatos on 25 May, he advanced alone against a school held by German troops and used grenades to help the battalion's counterattack continue. During the withdrawal, he repeatedly dealt with snipers threatening his comrades. At Stylos on 28 May, he disabled an enemy mortar position before being severely wounded. Even then, he directed traffic and gathered scattered soldiers into organised groups.

Official Victoria Cross citation, The London Gazette, 14 October 1941, page 5936:

“Serjeant Hulme exhibited most outstanding and inspiring qualities of leadership, initiative; skill, endurance and most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty from the commencement of the heavy fighting in CRETE, on 20th May, 1941, until he was wounded in action 28th May, 1941. On ground overlooking MALEME Aerodrome on 20th and 21st May he personally led parties of his men from the area held by the forward position and destroyed enemy organised parties who had established themselves out in front of our position, from which they brought heavy rifle, machine-gun and mortar fire to bear on our defensive posts. Numerous snipers in this area were dealt with by Serjeant Hulme personally; 130 dead were counted here. On 22nd, 23rd and 24th May Serjeant Hulme was continually going out alone or with one or two men and destroying enemy snipers. On 25th May, when Serjeant Hulme had rejoined his Battalion, this unit counter-attacked GALATOS village. The attack was partially held up by a large party of the enemy holding the school, from which they were inflicting heavy casualties on our troops. Serjeant Hulme went forward alone, threw grenades into the school and so disorganised the defence, that the counter-attack was able to proceed successfully.

On Tuesday, 27th May, when our troops were holding a defensive line at SUDA BAY during the final retirement, five enemy snipers had worked into position on the hillside overlooking the flank of the Battalion line. Serjeant Hulme volunteered to deal with the situation, and stalked and killed the snipers in turn. He continued similar work successfully through the day.

On 28th May at STYLOS, when an enemy heavy mortar was severely bombing a very important ridge held by the Battalion rearguard troops, inflicting severe casualties, Serjeant Hulme, on his own initiative, penetrated the enemy lines, killed the mortar crew of four, put the mortar out of action, and thus very materially assisted the withdrawal of the main body through STYLOS. From the enemy mortar position he then worked to the left flank and killed three snipers who were causing concern to the rearguard. This made his score of enemy snipers 33 stalked and shot. Shortly afterwards Serjeant Hulme was severely wounded in the shoulder whilst stalking another sniper. When ordered to the rear, in spite of his wound, he directed traffic under fire and organised stragglers of various units into section groups.”

Evacuated to New Zealand, Hulme underwent rehabilitation. Although medically discharged in February 1942, he returned for home service from May 1942 to September 1943 and reached warrant officer class two. After the war, he settled at Pongakawa near Te Puke and worked in transport, eventually managing a carrying company. His son Denny became Formula One world champion in 1967.

Hulme died at home on 2 September 1982, aged 71, and was buried in the Dudley Vercoe Drive cemetery at Te Puke. His Victoria Cross recognises eight days of leadership, initiative and protection of fellow soldiers during the defence and evacuation of Crete.