Maj-Gen. H.A. Macdonald, C.B. D.S.O.

Printed at bottom of card-mount:-
WOVEN IN PURE SILK. 
 
 

silk:
cm high by cm wide

by Godden:
Sir Hector Archibald Macdonald, who was born in 1853, enlisted in the 92nd Regiment - the Gordon Highlanders - in 1870, serving in the ranks for nine years.
His later military exploits cover almost every campaign and major battle of the late nineteenth century.
He commanded the Highland Brigade in the South African War from 1899 to 1901 and won the nickname 'Fighting Mac'.
He was knighted in 1901 and died on 25 March 1903.

At least three different Stevengraphs exist depicting FIGHTING MAC of the Gordon Highlanders.
The short title GENERAL MACDONALD was first listed on label 31+39a of 1901.

The first portrait shows the General facing slightly left [that is, the image above], with the full title MAJ-GEN. H. A. MACDONALD, C.B. D.S.O. woven across the bottom of the silk. This appears to have been taken from a photograph by Elliott & Fry, reproduced in the first number of The Sphere magazine of 27 January 1900.

A second version however, [listed as so372], depicts Macdonald facing half right, with the same title, regimental badge, etc.. This version is very similar to the photograph by Heath reproduced in The Sphere magazine of 3 March 1900.

The third and rarest version is identical to the image above, except that the title 'Sir' has been inserted, giving the full rank 'Maj-Gen. Sir H. A. Macdonald, C.B., D.S.O.' [listed as so376].

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