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 History » Dingwall Transport

12 Dingwall Transport

Archie Macrae's bus, JS7693, waiting outside Royal Bank in Dingwall. Note cobbled roadway. Archie Macrae operated a bus service (Monday - Saturday) from North Kessock to Dingwall. As well as carrying passengers Archie conveyed whatever his customers had ordered from ironmongers, butchers, bakers, grocers, and even garage spares! [Photo source unknown]

03 Dingwall Transport

Three coaches at Dingwall Station (late 19th century).

02 Dingwall Transport

Decline of the Ferry.

01 Dingwall Transport

At Dingwall Ferry.

10 Dingwall Transport

Cars and Lorries in Grant Street (1960s?)

06 Dingwall Transport

Cars, bicycles and motorcycles outside what became (or had been) the Post Office and later Morganti's shop and restaurant.

04 Dingwall Transport

Gunn's carriage outside Robertson's (now National) Hotel in 1900.

07 Dingwall Transport

Various delivery carts outside shops in High Street. The building was demolished (late 60s/early 1970s?) and became Woolworths, which in turn closed nationally in 2009, and re-opened as The Factory Shop in 2010.

09 Dingwall Transport

Cars, vans and ambulance outside garage in Tulloch street. (MacKay Bros., Motor Engineers, later Tesco store and car park and, in 2006, Lidl supermarket.)

08 Dingwall Transport

Baker's van with horse (house possibly in Craig Road). It is recalled that this van was a familiar sight in the late 1940s and early 1950s when its route took it to the farms along the Old Evanton Road, to Evanton and back to source, driven by "Jimmy the baker".

05 Dingwall Transport

Progress - various carts, one car, one motorcycle outside the National Hotel, pre-WW1.

12 Dingwall Transport

Plaque at Dingwall Station. [Photo RCHS] The plaque reads: This railway station was used as a tea stall for sailors and soldiers from 20th September 1915 until 12th April 1919 in connection with the Ross and Cromarty County Branch Red Cross Society during which period 134,864 men were supplied with tea.

13 Dingwall Transport

Plaque at Dingwall Station [Photo RCHS] Plaque reads: The Royal Navy train known as the Jellicoe Express stopped here. From 1917 it ran daily between London and Thurso during both world wars. It was named after Admiral Sir John Jellicoe and carried service personnel to and from Naval bases around the country, including Scapa Flow. This memorial is dedicated to the men and women who travelled and worked on it. [Photo RCHS]

11 Dingwall Transport

Car comes to grief somewhere in Dingwall area. [|Photo source and details unknown.]