Claude Charles Purvis Nye was born in Port Melbourne, Victoria on 1 November 1916. His parents were Claude NYE and Vera Ann Purvis and he married Charlotte Mary Gray in 1940 in Victoria.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 6 May 1940. At the time of his enlisted he was 23 years of age had seen previous service in the Victorian Scottish Regiment (VSR) and in the militia with the 59th Battalion where he was serving as a Lieutenant. He had grown up in Ormand an outer suburb of Melbourne.

The 2/14th Battalion was officially raised on 26 April 1940 and began to assemble for training, at Puckapunyal in Victoria. Claude Nye he was among some of the first men to enlist in the unit. Claude had been working for the Victorian Railways prior to enlistment and owing to his previous military experience with the VSR, Claude continued his commission as an officer, appointed to the 2/14th as Lieutenant on 13 June1940.

On 7 October Claude sailed on the Aquitania for service in the Middle East arriving in the Middle East 25 November 1940. The body of the 2/14th had moved to Palestine to complete its training. Claude undertook several army courses including map reading and attending a command course. Claude initially was a Signal Officer for the Battalion.

The 2/14th was the first battalion of the 21st Brigade, part of the 7th Australian Division. In early April 1941, the 21st Brigade moved to Egypt to bolster the defences along the Libyan frontier against an expected German attack and the 2/14th occupied positions at Maaten Bagush and Mersa Matruh.

The brigade returned to Palestine in late May in preparation for its first campaign – the invasion of Syria and Lebanon.

The 2/14th launched the 21st Brigade’s operations in Lebanon, attacking the Vichy French frontier outposts in the early hours of 8 June 1941. Initially, the 2/14th took part in the drive along the coast and fought a major engagement along the Zahrani River 12 June. It was later moved inland to Jezzine, to reinforce the 2/31st Battalion that had been counter-attacked by the Vichy French, and mounted an unsuccessful attack to capture several precipitous features north-east of the town. The 2/14th’s last major battle of the campaign was around Damour between 4 and 9 July. It remained as part of the garrison in Syria and Lebanon until early January 1942.

The 2/14 Battalion history records the following account of Lieutenant Nye at Damour: Under the cover of darkness LT Nye and a patrol from 8 Platoon investigated Air Qsour which, found undefended, was then occupied by A Company.

Sailing from Egypt on 30 January 1942, the 2/14th disembarked at Adelaide on 24 March 1942. Its stay at home was brief. On 13 August it arrived at Port Moresby in Papua, and by 16 August was advancing along the Kokoda Track to confront the rapidly advancing Japanese. 

The 2/14 Battalion’s first clash with its new enemy took place at Isurava on 26 August. By now Claude had been promoted to Captain and commanded B Company. Captain Nye and his company fought alongside the 39th Battalion taking up positions on the high ground at Isurava west of the main track and was immediate under fire from the start of the battle.

After holding at Isurava for three days, the 2/14 Battalion along with Calude withdrew back into the jungle of the Owen Stanley Range, pursued by the Japanese. The withdrawal along the Track was characterised by bitter, desperate fighting, none more so than that which occurred at Mission Ridge between 6 and 9 September 1942 at the Battle of Brigade Hill.

During the battle Brigadier Potts ordered Lt Col Caro of the 2/16 Battalion to attempt to clear the enemy from the track between Brigade Headquarters and the 2/16 Battalion positions. The Japanese were about to overrun the entire Australian position. With the help of the 2/14 Battalion it was decided that at 2.45 in the afternoon a three company attack would take place.

B Company of the 2/14 Battalion would attack west of the main track.
B Company of the 2/16 Battalion would attack down the track itself & C Company of the 2/16 would attack on the east of the main track.

The 2/14 Battalion history records:

C Company of the 2/16, attacked down the east of the track, and clearing the enemy from his positions on that side of the ridge, broke through to Brigade Headquarters. An attempt by them to drive back again to assist their B Company forward along the main track frustrated by the enemy, who had poured men into the danger spot. Their two officers, Capt. Langridge and Lieut. Lambert were killed, and most of the depleted company became casualties.

Unfortunately B Company of the 2/16 were unable to dislodge the enemy on the track.

For Claude Nye and his B Company of 2/14 Battalion, the most difficult task lay ahead. The enemy bypassing force was using the western flank and this meant that Claude Nye and his men would need to cut through the main bulk of the enemy thus exposing their own right flank to further enemy that was known to be waiting in the jungle.

The Battalion history continues the story: Captain Nye Officer Commanding B Company, was fully conscious of this, and also of the lack of reconnaissance made necessary by the urgency of the situation. However he (Capt. Nye) swiftly made his plan and orgainsed his company for the attack. 11 & 12 Platoons were forward and 10 platoon in reserve. As soon as B Company struck the main force of the enemy below Brigade Headquarters, they were subjected to fire from the enemy who had dug in there and to flank attack from the enemy coming to reinforce the position.

Only eight men of the company under command of Warrant Officer 'Wofty' Noble, succeeded... The fight in the jungle raged fiercely for nearly two hours, during which time 11 & 12 Platoons suffered heavily, and the company's gallant commander Capt. Nye, was killed...Capt Nye was idolised by B Company, who could scarcely believe that this lively spirit, whom they had looked for guidance and leadership, had been killed.


“I particularly think of blokes like ‘Lefty’ Langridge and Claude Nye, one with a company of the 2/16 the and the other with a company of the 2/14 th who were ordered to go around the right flank where the Japanese were, to try to force a way through them to Brigade Hill. They knew they couldn’t do it. They knew they were going to die. Langridge handed over his pay book and his dog tags to one of his mates. He was a brave soldier. So was Claude Nye. They were both killed.” (Lt Colonel Ralph Honner)