From: ASPClinns@aol.COM
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 08:10:19 EDT
Subject: Hector the hero
To: scots-l@listbox.com

Here is what I have on Hector MacDonald

1857 - Born in the Black Ilse
1870 - Enlisted in 92nd Gordon Highlanders
1879 - Served as a colour-sergeant in the Afghan War
1880 - Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant at end of Afghan War
1881 - Mentioned in despatches in 1st Boer Ware, South Africa
1885 - Led military expedition up Nile (Sudan)
1888 - Took part in Battle of Sunkin (Sudan)
1889 - Won Distinguished Service Order (DSO) medal (Sudan service)
1891 - Took part in Battle of Tokar (Sudan)
1896 - Led 2nd Infantry Brigade - the Dunglen Expeditionary Force (Sudan).
 Was now a Brigadier-General.  May have been promoted about this time.
1897/98 - Khartoum - Battle of Omdurman
1898 - ADC (Ade de Camp) to the Queen (Victoria)
1899 - Served as a Brigadier-General in Sirhind area of India
1900 - Served as a Major-General with Highland Brigade in South Africa
1901 - Knighted
1902 - Served as a Major-General with forces in Ceylon
1903 - Accused of being a homosexual.  Committed suicide.

Sources:  Campbell, David, "Major-Gneral Hector A. MacDonald", Douglas
Howard, London, 1903.  Chambers Biographical Dictionary.

Words to song:

HECTOR THE HERO

Lament him, ye mountains of Ross-shire;
Your tears be the dew and the rain;
Ye forests and straths, let the sobbing winds
Unburden your grief and pain.
Lament him, ye warm-hearted clansmen,
And mourn for a kinsman so true
The pride of the Highlands, the valiant MacDonald
Will never come back to you.

        O, wail for the mighty in battle,
        Loud lift ye the Coronach strain;
        For Hector, the Hero, of deathless fame,
        Will never come back again.

Lament him, ye sons of old Scotia,
Ye kinsmen on many a shore;
A patriot-warrior, fearless of foe,
Has fallen to rise no more.
O cherish his triumph and glory
On Omdurman's death-stricken plain,
His glance like the eagle's, his heart like the lion's
His laurels a nation's gain.

        O, wail for the mighty in battle,
        Loud lift ye the Coronach strain;
        For Hector, the Hero, of deathless fame,
        Will never come back again.

O rest thee, brave heart, in thy slumber,
Forgotten shall ne'er be thy name;
The love and the mercy of Heaven be thine;
Our love thou must ever claim.
To us thou art Hector the Hero,
The chivalrous, dauntless, and true;
The hills and the glens, and the hearts of a nation,
Re-echo the wail for you.

        O, wail for the mighty in battle,
        Loud lift ye the Coronach strain;
        For Hector, the Hero, of deathless fame,
        Will never come back again.