Private George Kidd
This North Irish Horseman may have been the George Kidd born on 18 February 1890 at Glassdrummond, Mullaglass, County Armagh, one of twelve children of labourer, later farmer, Isaac Kidd and his wife Margaret (nee Hutchinson).
Kidd enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 16 January and 23 February 1909 (No.285).
On 17 August 1914 he embarked for France with A Squadron, seeing action in the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne. The squadron then served as escort and bodyguard to the BEF's commander-in-chief at St Omer from October 1914 until January 1916.
On 2 July 1915 the Ballymena Observer published a number of letters of thank from North Irish Horsemen to people who had sent gifts of cigarettes to the troops at the front, including the following:
Miss C. McComb, c/o Miss McClean, Mount Street. – Dear Miss, – I received your packet of cigarettes and tobacco. Thanks very much for it (?) they are very good. I remain, yours truly, Trooper G. Kidd, N.I.H.
In May 1916 A Squadron came together with E and D Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII , XIX, then V Corps.
Kidd must have been injured or fallen ill, for on 9 July 1917 he was transferred to the Labour Corps' No.664 Home Service Labour Company (No.333721).