Queens Own Highlanders badge

[Mike H]

I was just browsing through some pages looking for something else completely. When I found a note referring to the the Queens Own Highlanders badge as " affectionately know as Hector" . Can anybody shed any light on "Hector" . I've never heard it called that before.

[gb64]

Originally Posted by Mike H

I was just browsing through some pages looking for something else completely. When I found a note referring to the the Queens Own Highlanders badge as " affectionately know as Hector" . Can anybody shed any light on "Hector" . I've never heard it called that before.

Hi Mike, I’ve heard this before, it’s affectionately called Hector within the regiment, as to why I’m not sure , maybe an old jocks humour

Gerard

[leigh kitchen]

The regimental museum sells a sweetheart, calling it a "Hector".
Anything to do with General Hector MacDonald?

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

The regimental museum sells a sweetheart, calling it a "Hector".
Anything to do with General Hector MacDonald?

Was he an old stag that had been run over by a road roller ?
Apologies to all the Scots

[leigh kitchen]

Boom boom boom "Cabosh"

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by Mike H

Was he an old stag that had been run over by a road roller ?
Apologies to all the Scots

Probably more to do with him being "horny" !

[leigh kitchen]

Another boom boom

[Frank Kelley]

Is that not a poem written by a certain Private Baldrick?

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Another boom boom

[Hoot]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

Is that not a poem written by a certain Private Baldrick?

Classic!!!:

[leigh kitchen]

Not sure - I've forgotten the words.

[jf42]

Originally Posted by gb64

Hi Mike, I’ve heard this before, it’s affectionately called Hector within the regiment, as to why I’m not sure , maybe an old jocks humour

Gerard

Hector, the unlucky hero of Troy, and Alexander The Great, king of Macedon and Conqueror of the East, were two of the Nine Worthies. Why these two pagan warriors should have become popular among the Scottish kings and aristocracy is not clear.

There were three Kings of Scotland named 'Alexander' and in the form of Alec or Sandy was still a popular name until comparitively recently.

Hector featured particularly among Scots lairds and military men and would have been associated with formidable older gentlemen when the Queen's Own Highlanders were formed.

[bobanodised]

Maybe something happened on a stag night

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Anything to do with General Hector MacDonald?

Originally Posted by mike_vee

Probably more to do with him being "horny" !

My suggestion was only partly in jest .

General Hector MacDonald's military career was well known in Scotland (especially in the Highlands) , there are numerous statues and paintings of him. How many regimental museums/messes have his portrait on display ?

There was even a song "Hector The Hero" written as a tribute to him in 1903.

But there was another side to this 'national hero' , his scadalous "exploits" in Ceylon in 1902/3 and the fact that he had secretly married a 15 year old in 1884.

The idea of nicknaming a horny highland stag after him would definitely appeal to the wicked/warped sense of humour that Jock squaddies have.


PS. In these PC times the term Jock is probably seen as offensive/racist but being a "Jock" serving in an English regiment it didn't bother me , and along with my mates Paddy and Taff we had our own nicknames for the English !

[leigh kitchen]

It had occurred to me that there might be a link between the General's alleged preference for male companionship and the term "stag" being used then as now to describe all - male social gatherings.
I knew he'd married and had a child / children "secretly" but not that his wife was so young - shades of one of my local military celebrities there - Sir Harry Smith.

[jf42]

Let's not over think this, gentlemen. I suspect that by 1960 only a few serving soldiers would have an idea who Sir Hector Macdonald was. Those who did might have known he was Gordon Highlander.