Oswald Charles Dawson MC (1 September 1919 – 22 December 2008) was a South African cricketer who played in 9 Test matches, all against England, in the 1947 and 1948–49 series.
Dawson was an all-rounder, an aggressive middle-order batsman and medium-pace bowler, who was an important player for Natal from 1938–39 to 1949–50 and Border from 1951–52 to 1961–62. His highest first-class score was 182, when Border defeated Transvaal by an innings in the Currie Cup in 1952–53.[1] His best bowling figures were 5 for 42, when the South Africans had an innings victory over Warwickshire in 1947.[2]
Dawson also played baseball for Natal.[3] His brother Denis played cricket for Kenya and East Africa.[4]
Before he came to prominence on the cricket field, Dawson had a distinguished record in World War II. He served with the Royal Durban Light Infantry at the Battle of El Alamein and later won a Military Cross in Italy.[5]
Dawson died at his home in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, in December 2008, aged 89. He and his wife Maureen had five children.[5] Their son Kevin played first-class cricket in South Africa from 1979 to 1987.[6][7]
References
- ^ "Border v Transvaal 1952-53". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
- ^ "Warwickshire v South Africa 1947". Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
- ^ Graham Short, The Trevor Goddard Story, Purfleet, Durban, 1965, p. 18.
- ^ "Denis Dawson". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Ossie Dawson dies aged 89". Cricinfo. 24 December 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ "Kevin Dawson". Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
- ^ Wisden 2009, p. 1599.
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