Major General Sir Hector Macdonald, KCB, DSO ⋆ Ross and Cromarty Heritage

Major General Sir Hector Macdonald, KCB, DSO

Attribution: unknown (Greenhill street in Dingwall looking North)

Major General Sir Hector Macdonald, KCB, DSO

Although born at Mulbuie, on the Black Isle, Hector Macdonald was greatly revered by the people of Dingwall and on 11 May 1899 he was awarded the Freedom of the town. The photographs which follow are in the ownership of Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society.

Major General Sir Hector Archibald Macdonald, KCB, DSO

General Sir Hector Macdonald. Photograph may have been taken at Lemlair House.

Attribution: In ownership of RCHS.

Birthplace

In August 2019 Mr Ian McNeish gave permission for RCHS to reproduce this postcard, which he owns, showing the birthplace of Sir Hector Macdonald in the early part of the 20th century.

Rootfield near Dingwall, birthplace of Sir Hector MacDonald

Attribution: Ian McNeish

Freedom of Dingwall

On 13 May 1899 Sir Hector Macdonald was awarded the Freedom of Dingwall. The town was thronged for the occasion. This photograph has been taken outside the Masonic Hall (later the Picture House) and the building facing is the gable end of what is now Deas’ tearoom.

Freedom ceremony luncheon for Sir Hector Macdonald

Inside the Masonic Hall for luncheon. The Provost standing alongside Sir Hector Macdonald and Lady Macdonald in foreground.

Attribution: In ownership of RCHS.

General Sir Hector Macdonald awarded the Freedom of Dingwall

The crowd in Dingwall when Sir Hector Macdonald awarded the Freedom of Dingwall.

Attribution: In ownership of RCHS.

Shako and Freedom Casket

Sir Hector’s shako, or ceremonial hat, and the Freedom casket, both of which are in Dingwall Museum.

Freedom of Dingwall casket presented to Major General Sir Hector Macdonald in May 1899.

Attribution: Image in ownership of RCHS.

Sir Hector's shako, or ceremonial hat, decorated with ostrich feathers.

Attribution: Image in ownership of RCHS.

Minature Railway

When in due course the residents of Dingwall decided to honour Sir Hector by building the Macdonald Memorial on Mitchell Hill, this was a photograph of the miniature railway used to convey material to the top. The photograph can be seen in Dingwall Museum.

And a photograph of the miniature railway used in the construction of the Macdonald Memorial on Mitchell Hill.

Attribution: In ownership of RCHS.

The Sir Hector Macdonald Memorial on Mitchell Hill.

Attribution: In ownership of RCHS.

View More photos of Sir Hector and other famous Dingwall people

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Dingwall » Dingwall Folk

01 4th Seaforth Highlanders

4th Seaforths embarking at Dingwall Station 1914.

Alexander M Brett

Plaque in memory of Alexander Brett located on entrance wall to St Clement's Church.

18 Bridgend Engineering, Dingwall [Photo courtesy of Mrs Jessie Sinclair]

Staff c.1940.

22 Dingwall WRVS [Photo Urquhart's Studio and DMT]

WRVS soup kitchen in the Old Academy grounds c.1950 Second left, back row, Mrs Granville Hay. Third left, front row, Mrs Lily Macrae. Others to be listed as they are identified

06 Dingwall Thistle FC 1913-14 [Photo DMT]

02 Dingwall's first Fire Brigade (date unknown). Photo: Dingwall Museum Trust

Alexander Frazer, blacksmith, identified by his grand-daughter, Miss Alexandra Fraser, Edionburgh.

Dingwall folk

Members of Dingwall Museum Trust with WW2 helmets discovered in a cupboard.

09 Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone [Photo DMT]

Dingwall's connection with Mr Gladstone is that his wife was a daughter of Provost Robertson, Bridaig House (many years the hostel of Dingwall Academy pupils from the west coast).

10 Mr and Mrs Gladstone [Photo DMT]

04 Provost Alexander Henderson [Photo DMT]

Alexander Henderson was Provost of Dingwall in 1912. Father of late Melven Henderson.

11 Dingwall YWCA or YMCA picnic

12 June 1918 at Kilmaroch.

16 Dingwall Post Office staff [Photo DMT]

GPO staff 1940s. Jean Macdonald at the back? Molly Frazer (deceased), Craig Road, at right.

17 Dingwall Post Office staff [Photo DMT]

Staff in the 1940s. Molly Frazer centre.

08 Freemason E Stenhouse [Photo DMT]

No date or details.

03 Provost Mitchell [Photo DMT]

Provost Mitchell, donor of the area which became Mitchell Hill cemetery.

21 Dingwall folk [Photo DMT]

l-r: Unknown; Danny Macbeth of "The North Star"; Peter Frazer, New Zealand Prime Minister.

20 Dingwall coach trip [Photo DMT]

Unknown group.

12 Dingwall Post Office [Photo courtesy of Mrs Anne Gordon and DMT]

Date unknown. Second right William Macdonald; third right his son Hector.

07 Dingwall Red Cross nurses 1932-33 [Photo DMT]

Back row l-r: Miss Munro, West End PO; Helma McCallum; Betty Cameron. Front row l-r: Hetty Duff; Lizzie Duff; Lily Macrae (nee Grant).

26 David Macdonald, MA

Plaque adjacent to the obelisk in Cromartie car park.

27 Mr Ian Macleod, Dingwall Museum Trust

Ian Macleod receiving the award of BEM from Lord Lieutenant Mrs Janet Bowen.

19 Dingwall coach trip

A group of Dingwallians in 1948 ready to board a Noble's (Muir of Ord) coach for their annual summer outing. ( l-r: ? Mrs Granville Hay ???? Alexander Ferguson, Mrs Christina Ogg, ?

25 Neil McKecnhie, MBE, MA, Dip.Ed. 1919-2014

Head Teacher of Dingwall Primary School.

28 PeterAngus, MBE [Photo courtesy of Alasdair Cameron]

Peter Angus receiving the award of MBE from Lord Lieutenant Mrs Janet Bowen.

29 PeterAngus, wife Jennifer and Lord Lieutenant Mrs Janet Bowen [Photo courtesy of Alasdair Cameron]

The award was announced in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2018.

15 Dingwall ploughman [Photo courtesy of The Daily Mirror

This newspaper cutting of 8 January 1935 reads: "A contestant during an interval at a ploughing match held at Humberston Farm, Dingwall, Ross-shire. Almost springlike weather prevailed."

05 Provost Robert ("Bob") Macleod

Photo source unknown.

24 Rev Alexander Glass

At Buckingham Palace 1993 for award of OBE.

23 Rev Alexander Glass, OBE, MA, Dip.Ed.

Rector of Dingwall Academy

13 Tommy Wilson [Photo courtesy of Roy Wilson]

Tommy Wilson came to Dingwall in the 1930s as a tap dance and rollerblade instructor. He gained the name of "Tommy the Rink". Later he became the projector operator at The Picture House and, when it closed, a telephone switchboard operator with the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board in their office based at the foot of Church Street.