Alfred Hulme: A Sniper’s Worst Enemy

Hulme’s Early Years

Alfred ‘Clive’ Hulme was born in Dunedin on 24 January 1911. After leaving school, he worked as a farm labourer and prior to the outbreak of World War II he was working in Motueka. 

After the outbreak of the war, he enlisted in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2 NZEF) in January 1940 and embarked overseas. While at sea, Hulme was promoted to Sergeant and soon arrived in North Africa for training. After being involved in the rearguard actions on Greece, he was evacuated to Crete with the majority of the New Zealand force.

Hulme at Crete and Beyond

On 20 May 1941, Hulme was working as the 23rd Battalion Provost Sergeant at the battalion’s Field Punishment Centre at Platanias, when the German paratroopers began to ‘drop’. He quickly issued rifles to the battalion’s ‘bad men’ (who were under punishment at the time) as he knew that all able bodied would be soon needed. Then, over an eight-day period, Hulme was in the thick of all the action. 

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.” London Gazette, 14th October, 1941

At Maleme airfield, on 20 and 21 May, he led groups of men in attacks on the German paratroopers.

At Galatos, on 25 May, after hearing news of his brother’s death (there were three Hulme brothers on Crete), he took part in the famous counter-attack on the German-held village whereby he cleared enemy positions with hand grenades. When the New Zealanders retreated to 42nd Street, west of Suda, he personally tracked down five snipers and killed them all. 

Finally, defending the mountain road at Stylos, he pursued the enemy, killing a mortar crew and putting the mortar out of acton. As the Germans withdrew, Hulme could be seen “sitting astride a stone wall like a cowboy on horseback, taking pot-shots at the withdrawing enemy.”

Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of Hulme’s efforts throughout the eight days was his ruthless pursuit of German snipers. Hulme ventured into enemy territory, often dressed in a German camouflage uniform, and hunted down snipers. In all, it is believed he killed 33 snipers and was about to claim his 34th when he was shot through the shoulder. He was ordered to retreat, but remained in the Stylos area and “in spite of his wound he directed traffic under fire and organised stragglers of various units into section groups.”

Hulme remained with his unit until it reached the port of Sphakia on 30 May. He was evacuated to Egypt and later repatriated to New Zealand, where he was discharged from the Army as medically unfit in February 1942. However, he was then called up for Home Service between April 1942 and September 1943. He also took part in the Victory Parade in England in 1946. 

In civilian life, Hulme purchased a trucking company in Te Puke and continued to work as a company director until his retirement. Hulme died in Te Puke on 2 September 1982, at the age of 71. He is buried at the Dudley Cemetery in Te Puke. We are very proud to have Clive Hulme’s medals on display at the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa. If you wish to see them, they are in the Valour Alcove in our Medal Repository.