The personal effects, including a Beretta 9mm pistol, service medals and a cap, were received by the Southern Naval command in deference of his wish that they be handed over to the Indian Navy after his death.
Admiral Dawson, who passed away in October 2011 at Bangalore, had willed that his personal effects be handed over to the Indian Navy which he served with distinction for over four decades.
The items -- including the Beretta 9 mm pistol and another pistol gifted by General Djourvav of Bulgaria, service medals and cap -- were accepted by Captain G S Oberoi, Commanding Officer of INS Dronacharya from Commander V K Janardhanan, Station Commander of Navy at Bangalore, a Naval press release said today.
Commander Janardhanan revealed that another pistol gifted to the late Admiral by Admiral Gorshkov of former USSR will be handed over to INS Vikramaditya on its arrival in India.
It was during Admiral Dawson's tenure as Flag Officer Commanding in-Chief, Southern Naval Command here from March 1979 to February 1982, that the site for the future Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala was identified.
The Admiral was Director of Naval Operations during the Indo-Pakistan conflict in 1971, when he conceived the daring attack on Karachi by missile boats.
During the latter half of his tenure as Navy Chief, Admiral Dawson was also Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC). Post retirement, he was appointed as High Commissioner of India to New Zealand.