Alfred Linton Gardner was one of many members of the Gardner family who wrote music. These included his Father Dr. John Twiname Gardner (1854-1914), and his son, John Linton Gardner (1917-2011) Alfred was a GP in the family practice in Ilfracombe from 1913 until he enlisted with the Royal Army Medical Corps in January 1917. He was killed in April 1918 when the medical post in which he was resting was hit by a German shell. His music was very much of its day, and reveals a strong sense of melody, a grasp of harmony, and suggests that he was probably a very good pianist and blessed with large hands! His musical output included a number of musicals for Guy’s Hospital Medical School, a Te Deum, some chamber music and a military march, The Gallant Devons.
