Kenneth Alford

Kenneth Joseph Alford was a composer, best known for his marches, of which the most famous is Colonel Bogey. He is known as "The British March King".

Related Topics:
Marches - Colonel Bogey

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Alford was really Fredrick Joseph Ricketts (February 21, 1881 - May 15, 1945), who joined the Royal Irish Regiment as a musician in 1895 and was commissioned into the Royal Marines as a Director of Music in 1927. He retired in 1944 with the rank of Major.

Related Topics:
February 21 - 1881 - May 15 - 1945 - Royal Irish Regiment - 1895 - Royal Marines - 1927 - 1944

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Soldiers then were not supposed to have outside interests, hence the pseudonym. Kenneth was his eldest son's name, and Alford was his mother's maiden name.

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Though this site previously mentioned that Ricketts was the author of hymns, including the very famous "Harvest Home", the words to that hymn were written by Henry Alford in 1844. The tune is "St. George's Windsor" by G.J. Elvey, which was written in 1858.

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