T H E C O V E N A N T E R
Captain Jerry Dawson It was with great Our final reunion took place in 1982.
sadness that I learnt of the death of Jerry Jerry was happy to hand over to another
Dawson, Jerry, after being very ill for a few bandsman. Although a few showed interest,
years, died at the age of 89 on the 17th nobody took it on. All the bandsmen were
August 2003.Having enlisted as band boy in very appreciative of the work of Jerry and
Hamilton in 1930, his connection with the Connie, for we all realised their tireless
Cameronians lasted for over seventy years. work had ensured that we remained in
I first became aware of Jerry in 1962 when
touch with one another. I know Jerry gladly
a letter from him invited me to support
did this for us, but his years of effort deserve
his idea for the first band reunion. Jerry,
our recognition. Connie said that being a
helped by his wife Connie, ran the reunion
Cameronian was such an important part
club for twenty years. In addition to the
of Jerry’s life. In the War he had served
annual gatherings, Jerry sent out regular
in other regiments; so it would not be an
newsletters, Christmas cards telephoned
exaggeration to state: ‘But in spite of all
us for news to pass on to others and was
temptations to belong to other regiments
always concerned about our welfare.
he remained a Cameronian man...’
At the London Reunions we were always
Before and after the band reunions
Jerry was involved with the organisation
of the annual regimental reunion in
London. Connie and Jerry enjoyed going
to the reunions in Scotland. From 1979,
as the London Convener, he organised
the Regimental plot outside Westminster
Abbey before Remembrance Sunday. He
saw the Chelsea Pensioners belonging to
the Cameronians, visited those who were
sick and, in fact, worked for the regiment as
long as he was able to do so.
In the 2000 edition, Jerry explained how
and why he left Strathaven to join the
Cameronians. He admitted his enlistment
was more one of desperation than of
inspiration. His words are applicable to
many other ranks, who for decades have
chosen to be servicemen in preference to the
bleak prospect of years of unemployment.
Jerry, being sixteen, was too young to be
a soldier but had the advantage of being
taught the cornet by the Salvation Army;
this fact made it easy for him to enlist as a
band boy.
Jerry joined the 2nd Bn Band at Bordon
under the baton of Leslie Seymour. In every
way possible, he distinguished himself as a
boy. In 1932, he was awarded the Vanderleur
Trophy as the best boy in the regiment. In
1933, having gained his Army 3rd and
2nd, he passed his Army First, a certificate
of education that cleared the way in one
important respect for eventual promotion
greeted with the maximum warmth by
to warrant officer and a QM commission.
Jerry and Connie. I thought of them as the
In common with most bandsmen, Jerry
‘smiling couple.’ Such meetings made it
was good at sport: he represented his
possible for bandsmen of many generations,
battalion at football and hockey. In 1936,
hitherto unknown to one another, to meet
he experienced his first period of active
and compare notes. Other Cameronians
service in Palestine and gained his first
were welcome to come to the reunions and
medal ribbon.
ex-officers, such as General Murray, came as
It was in 1934 while playing with the
guest speakers.
band in Southend that Jerry met Connie.

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