'Fighting Mac' back in frame at Black Isle talk
THE son of a Black Isle crofter who rose through the ranks to become a military hero before taking his own life in the wake of a sex scandal will return to the spotlight on the peninsula where he was born later this week.
Major General Sir Hector Archibald Macdonald has inspired music, poetry and monuments and was a soldier revered across Britain after rising from the most humble of beginnings.
Macdonald was born at Rootfied on the Black Isle in March 1853 and died in Paris in March 1903.
Within days of his death James Scott Skinner composed the haunting melody Hector the Hero as a lament in his honour, calling his death a “national calamity”.
Macdonald had joined the ranks of the British Army (Gordon Highlanders) in 1870 and rose through the ranks to gain a commission through his skill and bravery in the 2nd Afghan War.
During his fighting career he was awarded 10 decorations, 14 clasps and was mentioned in 11 dispatches.
In a talk to Cromarty History Society on Thursday next week, Liz Broumley will reveal how his posting to Ceylon in 1902 as Military Commander in Chief led to conflict with the local colonial society. Some did not take too kindly to the son of a crofter taking such a privileged role in their society.
When rumours about his sexuality surfaced and were published in the press, Macdonald committed suicide. Many of his supporters at home disbelieved the rumours and were determined to honour the man they revered. Amongst them is a landmark tower bearing his name overlooking the county town of Dingwall.
Ms Broumley, who has worked in artificial intelligence, spent much of her career as an academic, both tutoring and doing research.
The talk is on Thursday, March 21 at the West Church Hall in Cromarty at 7.30pm.
