Fred Karno’s Army

Beat group 1966-68 maybe from Derby or close by.

Named after the phrase which had worked its way into the English language which became associated with any chaotic situation. The original Fred Karno (Frederick John Westcott) was born in Exeter, Devon, England, in 1866 but moved to Nottingham in his early childhood. He was a comedian and pioneer who worked alongside Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel. Such was Karno’s fame that his name became associated with any chaotic situation, and the disorganised volunteer soldiers of the Great War labelled themselves “Fred Karno’s Army”. The phrase was also adapted into a trench song in the First World War, to the tune of the hymn “The Church’s One Foundation”.

1966

76 Club, Burton on Trent flyer
76 Club, Burton on Trent Flyer

1967

Playing alongside Nottingham group “The In-Crowd”

1968