| Macdonald | Hector Archibald | | Captain | MACDONALD, HECTOR ARCHIBALD, Captain, was born at Rootfield in the parish of Urquhart, in Rossshire, the youngest of five sons of William Macdonald, a Crofter and Stonemason. At the age of fifteen Hector Macdonald was apprenticed to a Draper at Dingwall. Here he joined the Invernessshire Highland Rifle Volunteers, and acquired that passion for soldiering which was destined to determine his future career. In June 1870, he left his employer without giving notice, and enlisted in the 92nd Regiment, now the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, and soon afterwards he sailed for India. Within three years he was Colour-Sergeant of his company, and in 1879 the 92nd Highlanders formed part of General Roberts's small force which marched to Kabul to avenge the massacre of Cavagnari and the rest of the British Mission. On the 27th September Macdonald showed skill and energy in driving the enemy from Hazardaraki Pass, near Karatiga, thus enabling Sir F Roberts to continue his march to Kushi. Together with Jemadar Sher Mahomed—3rd Sikhs—he again distinguished himself at the action at Charasiah on the 6th October following, when he dislodged a picquet which was causing much annoyance by its fire. On both occasions Macdonald was mentioned in Despatches. After the occupation of Kabul, he took part in the Maidan Expedition; the operations round Kabul in December 1879, including the affair at Shapur Cantonments, the attack on Takt-i-Shah, the engagement of Childukran, and the second action at Charasiah, and accompanied Lord Roberts on the march from Kabul to Kandahar in August 1880. He was present at the reconnaissance of 31 August, and at the battle of 1 September, and distinguished himself at the capture of Ayub Khan's Camp at Babawati. "His dash and prowess in the field, which won him the sobriquet of ‘Fighting Mac', led General Roberts to promote him at Kabul to the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders". His commission was ratified on 7 January 1880, when his claymore was presented to him by his brother officers. For his services in this campaign Macdonald received the Afghan Medal with three clasps, the Bronze Decoration, and was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 16 January 1880]. The 92nd Highlanders returned home, but Macdonald was landed with two companies in Natal to join in Sir G Colley's ill-fated attempt to relieve the garrison in the Transvaal. Macdonald was taken prisoner at Majuba (1881), but his gallantry so impressed Joubert that he gave him back his sword. He was again mentioned in Despatches. The year 1883 saw a new phase in Macdonald's career, when he served in the Egyptian Constabulary under Sir Valentine Baker in 1883; took part in the Nile Expedition in 1885; was Garrison Adjutant at Assiout from 22 January to 5 June 1885. After the failure of the British Expedition and the, British retreat, Macdonald was transferred to the Egyptian Army, and helped with its reorganization. He was promoted Captain in 1888, and made the 9th Sudanese as much like Highlanders as he possibly could, and the Sudan Campaign of 1888-91 tested the Highlanders-Sudanese, and they stood the test triumphantly. Captain Macdonald was engaged in the operations round Suakin, the action at Gemaizah, at Toski on 3 August 1889, and at the capture of Tokar 19 February 1891. He was mentioned in Despatches 11 January 1888; received the Medal and clasp, the Third Class Medjidie and the Khedive's Star for Suakin, 1888, and was mentioned in Despatches G September 1889, for Suakin (1889), received a clasp, and for his services at Toski was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 25 February 1890]: "For the action at Toski. Hector Archibald Macdonald, Captain, Gordon Highlanders". For the capture of Tokar, he received the Third Class Osmanieh and a Clasp to the Khedive's Star. He was promoted Major 17 July 1891, and attached to the 7th Royal Fusiliers whilst remaining in Egypt. In 1896 Lord Kitchener began his reconquest of the Sudan, and Macdonald was given command of the 2nd Infantry Brigade in the Expedition to Dongola. He was conspicuous in the actions of Firket (7 June) and Hafir (19 September), and was given the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 18 November 1896, and received the, Egyptian Medal with two clasps. He took part in the Nile Expedition of 1897-98, and commanded the Egyptian Brigade at the action of Abu Hamed (Despatches [London Gazette, 25 January 1898], and two clasps), and at Atbara, 8 April 1898 (Despatches [London Gazette, 24 May 1898]). At the Battle of Omdurman, 2 September 1898, Macdonald reached the zenith of his career when he wheeled his brigade round in a complete half-circle, half-battalion by half-battalion, to meet a sudden and unexpected attack by dervishes. He was mentioned in Despatches, 20 September 1898; created a CB 22 June 1897; appointed ADC to the Queen; given the Brevet of Colonel 16 November 1898; received two clasps, and was thanked by both Houses of Parliament. From 24 October 1899 to 3 January 1900, he was Brigadier General in India, commanding the Sirhind District, with Headquarters at Umballa. On relinquishing this command he was promoted Major-Gereral. On the death of General Wauchope, 10 December 1899, at Magersfontein, Major General Macdonald was summoned to South Africa to take command of the Highland Brigade. He arrived at Modder River in the end of January 1900; seized Koodoosberg Drift, 5-8 February 1900, and thus prepared the way for the relief of Kimberley. A few days later he led the brigade in the historic march to Bloemfontein. He was present at the operations at Paardeberg (16-27 February 1900), which led to the surrender of Cronje, and was wounded in the ankle; twice mentioned in Despatches and created a KCB. He recovered from his wound sufficiently to rejoin his brigade a month later, and took part in General Colville's march to Lindley and Heilbron, with several severely contested actions on the way. For the next two months he was engaged in the operations which ended in Prinsloo's surrender. The Highland Brigade was then broken up, and Sir Hector Macdonald directed various bodies of troops, first in the south-east of Orange River Colony, and from the beginning of 1901 in Aliwal North. A few months later he was given command of the Belgaum district of Southern India. After a visit to Australia, he was transferred to the command of the forces in Ceylon. Rumours got about that he would have to face a court-martial, and Sir Hector Macdonald was given leave of absence and came home— it was believed—to prepare his defence. He shot himself in Paris 25 March 1903, having served thirty-three years in the Army, nine of them in the ranks.
KCB, DSO, 1902 Coronation, Afghan (3) Char Kabul Kand, Kabul to Kandahar Star, Queen's Sudan, Egypt (2) Gem Toski, QSA (4) CC Paar Dr Witt, Khedive Star, Khedive Sudan (6)
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Gordon Highlanders |
