Clive Hulme

Alfred Clive Hulme VC (24 January 1911 – 2 September 1982) was a soldier in the New Zealand Military Forces and a recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award of the British Commonwealth, for gallantry "in the face of the enemy". He received the VC for his actions in the Battle of Crete during the Second World War.

Born in Dunedin, New Zealand, Hulme enlisted in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War and was posted to the 23rd Battalion. By the end of 1940, he was the battalion's provost sergeant. He was with the battalion during the invasion of Greece and the subsequent Battle of Crete. From 20 to 30 May, he was heavily involved in the fighting on Crete, performing a number of actions that saw him recognised with an award of the VC. Wounded during the final days of the battle, he was repatriated to New Zealand. He served on the Home Front for several months before being discharged from the military. In later life, he ran a cartage company. He died in 1982.

Early life Alfred Clive Hulme was born on 24 January 1911 in the city of Dunedin, New Zealand, was the eldest of four sons to Harold Clive Hulme, a clerk, and his wife Florence . Preferring to be known as Clive, he was educated at Eastern Hutt School. Powerfully built, he was interested in wrestling in his youth. After finishing his schooling, he worked as a farm labourer. In 1934 he married Rona Marjorie née Murcott; the couple later had a son and a daughter.

Second World War On the outbreak of the Second World War, Hulme was working in Nelson. A few months later, on 22 January 1940, he enlisted in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) and was posted to the 23rd Battalion.

Repatriation to New Zealand The wounds Hulme received on Crete saw him evacuated to New Zealand for treatment and rehabilitation. On 2 February 1942, he was presented with his VC by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Cyril Newall, in a ceremony at Nelson. Hulme's VC was one of two to be awarded to New Zealanders for their actions during the Battle of Crete.

Hulme was declared medically unfit in February 1942 and discharged from the 2NZEF, However, three months later he was recalled to active duty for service with the New Zealand Military Forces. He served on the home front until September 1943 at which time he was discharged again from the military, having been promoted to warrant officer.

Medals and legacy In addition to the VC, Hulme was entitled to the 1939–1945 Star, the Africa Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939–1945, the New Zealand War Service Medal, the 1953 Coronation Medal, the 1977 Jubilee Medal and the Greek Commemorative War Medal 1940–1941. Hulme's VC remains in the ownership of his family, but in 1999 it was loaned to the National Army Museum in Waiouru, for display for ten years. On 2 December 2007, his VC was one of nine that were among nearly a hundred medals stolen from the museum. On 16 February 2008, New Zealand Police announced all the medals had been recovered as a result of a NZ$300,000 reward offered by Michael Ashcroft and Tom Sturgess.

In recent times, Hulme's use of an acquired German parachutists' smock during some of his stalking exploits on Crete has been criticised. Military historians Glyn Harper and Colin Richardson, in their 2007 book covering New Zealand recipients of the VC, noted that this was against the rules of war. This prompted calls for an apology to the families of those killed by Hulme and caused upset to his daughter, who pointed out when "war is on, war is on – and you do what you have to do".