David Dawnay

 ( 1903 Births ) 

Major-General Sir David Dawnay (10 July 19039 October 1971) was a British Army officer who became Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He was also a Great Britain polo player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.

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Military career Born the son of Major the Hon. Hugh Dawnay, son of the 8th Viscount Downe and Lady Susan de la Poer Beresford, daughter of the 5th Marquess of Waterford and educated at Eton College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst,Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003. Dawnay was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in January 1924 before transferring to the 10th Hussars later that year. He was part of the British polo team which won the silver medal in the 1936 Summer Olympics: he played both matches in the tournament, the first against Mexico and the final against Argentina. David Dawnay: polo profile

Dawnay served in the Second World War as Commanding Officer of the 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment and then as Commanding Officer of the North Irish Horse in 1941. After serving as Second in Command of 23rd Armoured Brigade and then of 26th Armoured Brigade in 1943, he became Commander of 21st Army Tank Brigade in 1944 and then Commander of 26th Armoured Brigade in 1945.

After the War he became Commander of 86th Area based at Venice in Italy and then Commander of 2nd Armoured Brigade. He was made Deputy Commander of North Midland District in 1948, Commander of 8th Armoured Brigade in November 1948 and Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in January 1951. His last appointment was as 56th (London) Armoured Division in March 1954 before retiring in April 1957.

In retirement he was Secretary to the Ascot Authority and Clerk of the Ascot Racecourse. Holmes a Court

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Family In 1926 Dawnay married his cousin Lady Katharine Nora de la Poer Beresford, daughter of Henry de la Poer Beresford, 6th Marquess of Waterford and Lady Beatrix Frances Petty-FitzMaurice; they had two daughters and two sons. His son Hugh Dawnay was a well known polo player and respected coach whose son, Sebastian Dawnay, is also a professional polo player. Hugh's twin, Peter, married Caroline, daughter of Group Captain Nicolas Tindal-Carill-Worsley.'Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage', 2015 Edition: Viscount Downe

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Bibliography

• Richard Doherty (2025). 9781851828654, Four Courts Press. ISBN 9781851828654

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External links

• Generals of World War II

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Categories: 1903 Births, 1971 Deaths, British Army Major Generals, Rifle Brigade Officers, 10th Royal Hussars Officers, Knights Commander Of The Royal Victorian Order, Companions Of The Order Of The Bath, Companions Of The Distinguished Service Order, People Educated At Eton College, Graduates Of The Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Commandants Of Sandhurst, Reconnaissance Corps Officers, North Irish Horse Officers, British Army Brigadiers Of World War Ii, English Polo Players, Olympic Polo Players For Great Britain, Polo Players At The 1936 Summer Olympics, Olympic Silver Medallists For Great Britain, Roehampton Trophy, Medalists At The 1936 Summer Olympics, David, Olympic Medalists In Polo, Military Personnel From County Waterford

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