H537931, Sergeant
Murray Hudson
Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
Waiouru - 13 February, 1974
Murray Ken Hudson (Huddy) was born in Opotiki in 1938 and after leaving school he joined the 6th Hauraki Battalion, New Zealand Territorial Force. He went on to join the Regular Force in 1961 and served for 2 years in Malaya with the 1st New Zealand Regiment. In 1966 he joined the Special Air Service and would serve with them in Borneo. On his return from Borneo he was promoted to Sergeant and posted to 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment which was based in Singapore. He would then serve a 12 month tour with V Company, 1RNZIR during the Vietnam War. In 1971 he was posted to 7th (Wellington Hawkes Bay) Battalion, as Cadre NCO to the Masterton Company.
On 13 February 1974, Sgt Hudson was tragically killed during a training accident in Waiouru. While supervising a live grenade practice, Sgt Hudson noticed an NCO had accidentally armed the grenade he was about to throw and ordered him to throw it immediately. The NCO froze still so Sgt Hudson grasped his hand and attempted to release the grenade and throw it over the front parapet of the throwing bay. He was within inches of success when the grenade exploded killing both men.
For this action Sgt Hudson was awarded a posthumous George Cross for displaying devotion to duty and courage of a very high order in risking his life to save the life of a fellow soldier. He left behind a wife and two small children.
The citation from the London Gazette dated 11 October 1974 reads:
"On 13th February 1974 while supervising a live grenade practice, Sergeant Hudson suddenly became aware that the NCO in his grenade throwing bay had accidentally, and perhaps unknowingly, armed the grenade he was about to throw. Sergeant Hudson immediately ordered the man to throw the grenade, but there was no reaction. The Sergeant was then seen to quickly grasp the NCO's throwing hand in both his hands and attempt to throw the grenade over the front parapet of the throwing bay. He was within inches of success when the grenade exploded killing both men.
As an experienced soldier, Sergeant Hudson would have realised immediately that once the grenade became armed there was less than four seconds to detonation. While he must have bgen aware of the great risk involved he took no action to safeguard himself, but instead attempted to dislodge the grenade from the NCO's hand and throw it over the parapet.
Sergeant Hudson displayed devotion to duty and courage of a very high order when, with a complete disregard for his own safety, he attempted to save the life of a fellow soldier."
He is buried at the Opotiki cemetery.
His medals are held at the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum, Waiouru, New Zealand.
The medals awarded to Sergeant Hudson are:
- The George Cross
- The New Zealand Operational Service Medal
- The General Service Medal 1962 with clasp "BORNEO"
- The New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 - Warlike with clasp "MALAYA 1960-64"
- The Vietnam Medal
- The South Vietnam Campaign Medal
Murray Hudson's Medals