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 and the
Royal Military College, Sandhurst, 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. 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. In retirement he was Secretary to the Ascot Authority and Clerk of the
Course at Ascot. ==Family==