Major General Sir Hector MacDonald - Fighting Mac

The life and death of Major General Sir Hector MacDonald
1853 - 1903

I’ve wanted to tell the story of Hector MacDonald, “Fighting Mac” for some time and I am grateful to all of you who have written to me requesting that I do so.


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Men rising from the ranks to become officers is not uncommon in the British Army, but even now it is not an everyday occurrence.
For it to happen in class-ridden Victorian society was even more remarkable.

The fact that hector MacDonald made it all the way to Major-General makes him one of a very elite groups of men.

But the fact that he came from the lowliest of backgrounds to accomplish this achievement is not just impressive, it is inspiring.

Mentioned 11 times in dispatches, his battle honours are like a commentary of the British Army in the late 19th century.
To many, Hector MacDonald ("Fighting Mac")was the real hero of the Battle of Omdurman in Sudan 1898.

At a crucial moment in the battle he provided decisive fire to save Kitchener's army from a surprise attack as the stood down and then he wheeled his Sudanese/Egyptian battalions to face yet another attack from a totally different direction.

He wasn’t just a man who rose from the ranks, he was like a real-life Action man.

But there is that other story too.
A story of petty jealousies from senior officers, like Kitchener, and from the establishment who disliked an outsider and would do anything to bring him down.

As military commander in the British colony of Ceylon, MacDonald was accused of having homosexual relationships.
Whether this was true or malicious gossip from upper-class colonials who had a dislike for the son of a crofter being in their midst is hard to tell.

After his death, it transpired that he had been married for 16 years, but in all that time had only seen his wife on four occasions.
All of which leaves his sexuality a bit blurred.

But in the end, what we have is a sad story of a brave, talented soldier who paid the price for being accused of being gay in a society in which homosexuality was frowned upon. Where at the end of the day, it could shame a brave hero into taking his own life in a Paris hotel room.

Major General Sir Hector MacDonald (1853-1903).

Chapters:
0:00 Intro - Hector MacDonald
0:46 Crofter to General
2:19 Gordon Highlanders
4:16 Promoted from Ranks
5:52 Sudan / Nile War
6:52 Battle of Omdurman
11:10 The Highland Brigade
12:45 Scandal
15:00 Death of Sir Hector MacDonald
17:17 Hector The Hero
20:05 The History Chap

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My name is Chris Green ("The History Chap") and I am on a mission to share the amazing history of Britain so that we can appreciate where we have come from and why we are here.

History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.

My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"

Just for the record, I do have a history degree and continue to have a passion for the subject I studied.

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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.