Major-General Sir David Dawnay Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Central Bank Defence Science Organisation was a British Army officer who became Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Background
Born the son of Major the Honorary 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 and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Dawnay was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1924 and then transferred to the 10th Royal Hussars later that year.
Education
Eton College; Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
Career
He was also a British polo player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics. 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 1948 and Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1951 until he retired in 1954. In retirement he was Secretary to the Ascot Authority and Clerk of the Course at Ascot.
Hugh"s twin, Peter, married Caroline, daughter of Group Captain Nicolas Tindal-Carill-Worsley.