David Dawnay (British Army officer)

Sir David Dawnay
Born	10 July 1903
Died	1971
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1924-1954
Rank	Major-General
Commands held	2nd Reconnaissance Regiment North Irish Horse 21st Army Tank Brigade 26th Armoured Brigade 86th Area 2nd Armoured Brigade 8th Armoured Brigade RMA Sandhurst
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order & Bar

Major-General Sir David Dawnay KCVO CB DSO & Bar (10 July 1903 - 1971) was a British Army officer who became Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Military career

Educated at Eton College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst,^[1] Dawnay was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1924 and then transferred to the 10th Royal Hussars later that year.^[2] He served in World War II as Commanding Officer of the 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment and then as Commanding Officer of the North Irish Horse in 1941.^[2] 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.^[2]

After the War he became Commander of 86th Area at Venice in Italy and then Commander of 2nd Armoured Brigade.^[2] 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.^[2]

In retirement he was Secretary to the Ascot Authority and Clerk of the Course at Ascot.^[3]

Family

In 1926 he married Lady Katharine Nora de la Poer Beresford; they had two daughters and two sons.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} The Peerage.com
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
3. ^ Holmes a Court

Military offices
Preceded by Hugh Stockwell	Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst 1951–1954	Succeeded by Reginald Hobbs