Call goes out for descendants of the Kidd family from Taranaki

Matthew Dallas Reporter from Feilding-Rangitīkei Herald

Hey neighbours,

A net is being cast far and wide to find descendants of the Kidd family from Taranaki, with the aim of inviting them to the New Plymouth horse races on September 28.

Mary Burgess from NZ Thoroughbred Racing says on that day they will run the longest horse race in the country with the winner gaining entry into the Jericho Cup in Australia in December.

The Jericho Cup was revived last year to mark the centenary of its first running during the First World War where Australians and New Zealanders from the Mounted Rifles competed.

The Kidd family had the following members in action during the First World War, (information provided by the NZ War Museum) and the hope is someone with family connections with come forward:

* 11/1817 Robert Guthrie Kidd, Wellington Mounted Rifles. Killed in Action 19 April 1917,Gaza, Palestine.
* 35834 Richard James Kidd, Imperial Camel Corps.
* 11/1818 Stuart Oxley Kidd, Imperial Camel Corps. Killed in Action 9 January 1919, Egypt.
* 22/325 Arthur Preston Kidd, Imperial Camel Corps.
* 22/325 Elsie Jane Kidd, New Zealand Army Nursing Corps.

The above five siblings were the children of Stephen Preston Kidd of Westown, New Plymouth, and most appear to have been born in Inglewood.
Richard James Kidd was married to Una Chesterton and died in 1976. He is buried at the Woodville Old Gorge cemetery and is listed as the father of Kenneth and Lawrence.
Elsie Jane Kidd (also known as Elvie Jane Kidd) married a Mr Thirwall from Matamata and died in 1979.

If you have any information that is helpful, please contact Mary at
mary.burgess@nztr.co.nz