Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Excerpt from Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Courtesy of the Authors

Dean Dawson was born at Gumeracha, SA on 13th March 1881.  He was the third son and fifth child of Henry Dawson, a farmer, and Mary, nee Lillecrapp. He was educated at Prince Alfred College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide graduating in 1905. He was an athletic man, playing football, cricket and lacrosse. In 1901 Dean joined the Norwood Football Club and was a renowned and successful player for the club.  He was a house surgeon at the Adelaide hospital in 1906. He married Eulalie Burnard, also a medical graduate, and younger sister of Renfrey Gershom Burnard. She died in childbirth in 1907. After the death of his wife he took up a practice in Laura where he met and married his second wife Lorna Muriel Deeley.  They were married on 4th August 1909.  He moved to a practice in Port Pirie, in July1911, where his first two children were born.

Dawson enlisted in the AIF on 15th July 1915 for one years’ service.  He had previously had 12 months service as a captain in the AAMC Reserve at the Port Pirie Training Area. He was described as 5ft 9ins tall weighing 11st 6lbs, and was able to ride. He was initially posted to the 2 AGH in Egypt and was taken on strength on the 9th September 1915. He then proceeded to 1 AGH at the Heliopolis Red Cross Hospital in Cairo on 30th September 1915. He was posted for duty to 1 FdAmb in France on 1st August 1916. He returned to Australia on the Kanowna from Southampton for completion of his 12 months service on 23rd September 1916. His appointment was terminated on 20th November 1916, with the following warning; “This Officer should be informed that the termination of his appointment in AIF does not relieve him from duty when required.” His appointment in the AAMC Reserve was also terminated. Dawson had some concerns with the return of his personal effects from the AIF and engaged in several letters with the military to recover his belongings. He was issued the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Dawson went back to Port Pirie for two more years on his return from the war.  During this time he was involved in an inquest of a Mrs Fletcher, who died as a result of domestic violence, from Port Pirie on 21st November 1916 and was reported in the Adelaide Advertiser the following day.  “Dr Dean Dawson said the woman had a deep cut extending from the back of the neck and continuing towards the left ear.  Her condition was serious from loss of blood and shock. Immediate attendance on the spot might have given her a chance“.  He moved back to Adelaide with his family in 1919, and set up a practice at Clarence Park and North Terrace, Adelaide.  He then moved with his wife to Mount Lofty where, after a year’s illness he died on 18th March 1939 aged 58 years. He was buried at Mitcham Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Lorna and their four children, two sons and two daughters.  His wife lived until the 9th December 1971.