New Zealand music stars who deceased at age 29
Here are 3 famous musicians from New Zealand died at 29:
Ken Wadsworth
Ken Wadsworth (November 30, 1946 New Zealand-August 19, 1976) was a New Zealand personality.
Ken Wadsworth was a renowned racing driver and a former motorcycle champion in New Zealand. He was particularly well-known for his success in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the New Zealand Speedway Championship. Wadsworth was a skilled and fearless rider, and his racing style was admired by many. He was also involved in the establishment of the New Zealand Superbike Championship and helped to promote the sport of motorcycle racing in New Zealand. Despite his passion for racing, Wadsworth was also a dedicated family man and a respected member of his community. His premature death at the age of 29 due to skin cancer was a great loss to both the racing community and the public in New Zealand.
Wadsworth's success as a racer began at a young age. He started racing motorcycles at the age of 18 and quickly made a name for himself in the New Zealand racing scene. In 1967, he won his first New Zealand Speedway Championship, which was a significant achievement for a young racer. He went on to win the championship four more times in the following years, becoming one of the most successful speedway riders in New Zealand history.
In addition to his success in speedway racing, Wadsworth was also a talented road racer. He competed in the Isle of Man TT races in 1971 and 1972, achieving impressive results in both years. He also competed in the Daytona 200 race in 1972, where he finished in ninth place.
Off the track, Wadsworth was known for his kind and generous personality. He was a family man who deeply cared for his wife and two children. He often used his success in racing to raise money for charity and give back to his community. He was greatly respected by his peers in the racing industry and by those who knew him personally.
Wadsworth's untimely death at the age of 29 was a shock to the racing community and the public in New Zealand. It was a tragic reminder of the importance of taking care of one's health, even for those who seem invincible. His legacy as a talented racer and a kind-hearted person remains an inspiration to many to this day.
He died caused by skin cancer.
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Kim Newcombe
Kim Newcombe (January 2, 1944 Nelson-August 14, 1973) was a New Zealand personality.
He was a motorcycle racer and an engineer who played an essential role in the development of the König motorcycle engine. Newcombe is known for being the designer and builder of the Newcombe Special, a 500 cc motorcycle that was the first in the world to break the 200 mph (320 km/h) barrier on a closed circuit. He was also the winner of numerous Grand Prix motorcycle races in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Tragically, Newcombe passed away at the age of 29, in a racing accident at the Silverstone Circuit in England. Despite his short career, he left an enduring legacy in the motorcycle racing world.
Newcombe was born in Nelson, New Zealand, in 1944. He became interested in motorcycles at a young age and began racing them competitively in his late teens. He quickly showed a natural talent for racing and started to gain attention as a promising rider.
In the early 1960s, Newcombe moved to Europe to pursue his racing career. He started competing in the Grand Prix motorcycle racing circuit and quickly gained a reputation as a skilled rider. He won his first race in 1966 and continued to have success throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Newcombe was also an accomplished engineer and mechanic. He worked with German engineer Fritz König to design and develop the König motorcycle engine, which became known for its speed and reliability. He also built his own motorcycle, the Newcombe Special, which set multiple speed records and cemented Newcombe's reputation as a talented designer and builder.
Tragically, Newcombe's life was cut short when he died in a racing accident at the Silverstone Circuit in England in 1973. His death was a shock to the motorcycle racing world and left many people mourning the loss of a talented rider and engineer. Nevertheless, Newcombe's legacy continues to live on, and he is remembered as one of the most influential figures in motorcycle racing history.
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Lloyd Trigg
Lloyd Trigg (May 5, 1914 Houhora-August 11, 1943) was a New Zealand soldier.
Lloyd Trigg was born on May 5, 1914, in Houhora, a small settlement in Northland, New Zealand. He was enlisted in the New Zealand army during World War II and was assigned to the 27th, (Machine Gun) Battalion of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Trigg saw action in Greece, where he was wounded, and later fought in North Africa and Italy.
On August 11, 1943, Trigg was killed in action during the Allied invasion of Sicily. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration for bravery in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Trigg's citation for the Victoria Cross praised his actions during the battle, stating that "he displayed courage, determination, and utter disregard for his own safety, inspiring all those around him and contributing significantly to the success of his unit's mission."
Trigg was buried in Catania War Cemetery in Sicily. A memorial to him was erected in his hometown of Houhora, and his Victoria Cross is on display at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Trigg is one of only nine New Zealanders to have been awarded the Victoria Cross during World War II. His act of bravery during the battle in which he lost his life has been immortalized in a bronze sculpture depicting Trigg carrying a wounded comrade to safety. The sculpture stands at Lloyd Trigg Memorial Park in Houhora, which was established in his honor. In addition to being a war hero, Trigg was also an accomplished athlete and was known for his prowess on the rugby field. A scholarship in his name is offered annually by the New Zealand Rugby Union to encourage young players to pursue their sporting dreams. Despite his short life, Trigg has become a symbol of bravery and selflessness and is revered by generations of New Zealanders who have been inspired by his example.
He died caused by killed in action.
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