Lieutenant Keith Francis Blair lost his life on 26th October 1942 from injuries received in an accident in Victoria while serving with Line of Communication Signals (Australian Corps of Signals), Victoria.

The son of Francis John and Jessie Boyd Blair, he was born in Kew. The family lived at 65 Sackville St. He was at Carey in his early years, from 1926-1930, before moving to Scotch College. There, he was the Champion in Rifle Shooting in 1935 and a member of 5 Bn. Senior Cadets. In 1936-7 he was a member of the Cadets’ losing Monash Shield team in the inter-School Cadet Rifle Shooting Competition, won by Melbourne Grammar.

He left school in 1937 and commenced his commercial career as a traveller with Importers Agency Pty. Ltd.

He joined the 5 Bn. Victorian Scottish Regiment (Militia) in 1939 and transferred to the regular Army in June, 1940. He was then assigned to Southern Command, Signals.

Prior to his death he was assigned to Victorian Line of Communication Area, Signals; Australian Corps of Signals. The circumstances of his fatal accident are unknown but his Commanding Officer and fellow officers remembered him as “A good soldier and a fine gentleman” whilst his N.C.O.s said he was held in high esteem by all. He was only 21 years of age.

His cousins, Capt. John Boyd Ferguson (2/33rd Bn.) and Pte. James Ferguson (2/9th Arm’d Regt.), also served. Capt. Ferguson was accidentally killed in New Guinea in Sept.1943.

Keith Blair is one of those commemorated by the Kew Municipal Roll of Honour Monument.