Kenneth J. Alford
From Marchdb.net
February 21, 1881 - May 15, 1945
Kenneth J. Alford was the pseudonym of Fredrick Joseph Ricketts. Kenneth J. Alford was derived from the first name name of his oldest son Kenneth, Ricketts’ middle name, Joseph, and Alford was his mother’s maiden name. Frederick Joseph Ricketts was born in London on 21 febuary 1881. His father, Robert, was a coal merchant in Ratcliff. When Ricketts was seven his father died. In 1895 he also lost his mother, Louisa (née Alford).
After he became an orphan he chose to apply for a career in Army Music. Since he was to young he had to lie about his age. The entry age for Band Boys was 15. To the recruitment officer he stated his birth date as 5th March 1880.
Ricketts was chosen to join one of the oldest regiments in the British Army, the Royal Irish Regiment.He joined the regiment in september 1895. After a few month he joined the Band of the 2nd Batallion playing cornet. In 1896 the 2nd Batallion and it’s band was sent to India for seven years of foreign service.
In 1904, after service in India, he became a student at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. While there, according to a story circulated among British bandsmen, he composed several works for fellow students who had been given composition assignments. One of the marches he is supposed to have written is Namur, which is credited to W. V. Richards. While at Kneller Hall, he also served as an organist and assistant director of music from 1906-1908.
In June, 1908, he was appointed bandmaster of the 2nd Argyll and Southern Highlanders. Within a week of assuming command of this band, and at the request of his new commanding officer, he composed, The Thin Red Line, and dedicated it to the battalion.
Ricketts served with the 93rd Highlanders for 19 years, transferring to a post with the Royal Marines Depot Band at Deal in July, 1927. When this unit was dissolved in 1930, he finally received the appointment that he had long hoped for: director of music of the Plymouth Division, Royal Marines. Under Ricketts' direction, this band became world-famous, traveling to Paris and Canada. During World War II, he was promoted to the rank of Major, and the band made tours of camps and factories throughout England.
Frederick Ricketts was commonly known as Joe. He was forced to leave military service in April, 1944, because of bad health. He retired from the Band of H.M. Royal Marines on June 1, 1944. He died at his home in Reigate, Surrey on May 15, 1945. Just seven days after the war in Europe was over, and shortly after being operated on for cancer.
As a composer, Ricketts, alias Alford, is viewed as the "British March King." His marches are finely crafted compositions and bear titles which relflect his patriotism. Some pay tribute to great British military victories.
The band of Plymouth Division, Royal Marines.
Marches composed by Kenneth J. Alford:
- The Thin Red Line 1908
- Holyrood 1912
- The Vedette 1912
- Colonel Bogey 1914
- The Great Little Army 1916
- On The Quarter Deck 1917
- The Middy 1917
- The Voice of the Guns 1917
- The Vanished Army (They Never Die) 1919
- The Mad Major 1921
- Cavalry of the Clouds (Dedicated to the Royal Air Force) 1923
- Dunedin 1928
- Old Panama 1929
- HM Jollies 1929
- The Standard of St George 1930
- By Land and Sea 1941
- Army of the Nile 1941
- Eagle Squadron 1942
Recordings
The Music of Kenneth Alford: Amazon.com iTunes
Complete Marches Of Kenneth Alford: Amazon.com iTunes
