MINI BIO

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 Murcott; the couple had two children.
Enlisting a few months after the start of WW2, he went to England and then Greece and Crete
During the intense fighting on Crete he was recommended for the VC.  He was badly wounded and evacuated to NZ for treatment and rehabilitation for his wounds. 
On his return to Nelson on 23 Oct 41, he was honoured with a civic reception. 2 Feb 42 he was presented with his VC by the Governor-General of New Zealand, Cyril Newall.
Hulme's VC was one of three to be awarded for actions during the Battle of Crete.
Declared medically unfit in Feb 1942 he was discharged from the 2NZEF, however, 3 months later was recalled.  He served on the home front until Sep 43 at which time he was discharged again from the military, having been promoted to warrant officer.
After the war he lived at Pongakawa, near Te Puke, running a cartage company and becoming involved with water divining and oil prospecting. Over the years, the effect of his war wounds became more pronounced with his ability to use his wrists declining
and his forearm becoming withered. By 1960, he was on a full disability pension. 
He was survived by his wife and two children. 
His son, Denny Hulme, was active in motorsports, winning several Grand Prix and becoming the Formula One World Champion in 1967..

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LONDON GAZETTE

No. 35306

10 October 1941

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Sergeant 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 the 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 onto 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 while 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.