 Dawkes served with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and was not discharged in time to take part in county cricket on its resumption in 1946.In his absence, Corrall resumed as regular wicketkeeper for Leicestershire.Still in the RAF in the first two-thirds of the 1947 season, Dawkes played three first-class matches for the Combined Services cricket team before his discharge in August, when he joined Derbyshire for the county's final four County Championship matches of the season.