Murray Hudson

Who was Murray Hudson?

Murray Ken Hudson GC was a Sergeant with the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment who lost his life when trying to protect soldiers under his command at Waiouru Military Camp in New Zealand. He was awarded the George Cross posthumously on October 11, 1974.

Born in Opotiki in the Bay of Plenty, where he attended Opotiki College, Hudson enlisted in the New Zealand Army on May 24, 1961. He served in Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam, serving with the New Zealand Special Air Service.

Sergeant Hudson was a drill instructor at Waiouru supervising a training exercise when an NCO accidentally armed a grenade he was about to throw. Hudson saw the soldier freeze, and immediately ordered him to throw it. The NCO was still unable to react so Hudson grasped his hand and tried to release the grenade, which exploded, killing both men.