A special ceremony, commemorating a heroic Highland warrior, took place in Dingwall at the weekend.
Major General Sir Hector MacDonald, known as the “Fighting Mac” was the seventh son of a crofter near Dingwall, born on March 4 1853.
He grew up to become one of the country’s most decorated war heroes and gave his name to the MacDonald Tower at the Mitchell Cemetery in Dingwall – where a commemorative service was held on Saturday to mark the 164th anniversary of his birth.
Organiser, Greg Dawson Allen, said: “It was a successful day. Hopefully, we are going to form a Friends of Fighting Mac steering committee to keep this going on a regular basis, year on year.
“It goes to show the level of interest that so many people weren’t deterred from coming out by the weather. It is something I think the people of Dingwall have taken to their hearts. They can link the tower to a local hero.”
Chief of the Clan Donald, Lord Godfrey MacDonald and his wife Lady Claire MacDonald attended the ceremony, as did David Lockhart, deputy lord-lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty.
Lord MacDonald laid a wreath on behalf of Clan Donald. The service was also attended by a Colour Party from the Royal British Legion in Dingwall, Dingwall Pipe Band, 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, 7 Scots Royal Regiment of Scotland [51st Highlanders], The Gordon Highlanders Association and members of the Invernesss Military Wives Choir.
It was led by Rev Alistair Murray, the chaplain of the Royal British Legion in Inverness.
As a young boy, Hector worked in a shop in Dingwall – but rapidly rose through the ranks after joining the army.
He was enlisted in the 92nd Gordon Highlanders and served as a colour sergeant in the Afghan War of 1879.
His distinguished service saw him offered either the Victoria Cross or a commission in his regiment, and he chose the latter.
He went on to serve in the Boer War and became a personal adviser to Queen Victoria. He was promoted to the rank of colonel.
He died in tragic circumstances in a hotel in Paris in 1903.
Respects were also paid to Pipe Major George Findlater – another Gordon Highlander who fought in the same campaigns as Sir Hector.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery at the Battle of the Dargai Heights in India in 1897.
The pipe major continued to play to encourage his fellow troops despite having been shot in both ankles.
