Ossie Dawson

Oswald Charles Dawson (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. His best bowling figures were 5 for 42, when the South Africans had an innings victory over Warwickshire in 1947.

Dawson also played baseball for Natal. His brother Denis played cricket for Kenya and East Africa.

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.

Dawson died at his home in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, in December 2008, aged 89. He and his wife Maureen had five children. Their son Kevin played first-class cricket in South Africa from 1979 to 1987.

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