Weapons and medals, of General Sir Hector MacDonald, Gordon Highlanders

These weapons and medals belonged to General Sir Hector MacDonald of the 92nd Gordon Highlanders.

The weapons are a sword, a dirk and a sgian dubh. The dirk and sgian duhb were presented to Macdonald 'by his former comrades the sergeants' of the 92nd Gordon Highlanders when he was commissioned an officer in the regiment in 1880. The promotion was a reward for Macdonald's courage and leadership during the Second Afghan War. The sword was presented to Macdonald by the officers of the 92nd Gordon Highlanders on the same occasion. The medals include a gold medal to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII, issued to the General by the Government of Ceylon.

The spectacular military career of Hector Macdonald, a crofter's son from the Black Isle, made him the most famous living Scot of his day. Macdonald rose from rank of private in the 92nd Gordon Highlanders to a knighthood and the rank of major general. Such advancement was uncommon in the class-conscious Victorian army. This added a popular personal aspect to the traditional story of a Highland military hero. Macdonald's story ended in tragedy. When allegations of homosexual activity involving Macdonald were about to be made public in 1903, he killed himself.

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