Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Keith Roe Temple was born on 11 February 1899 in Glasgow, Scotland. He was the son of Edward and Alice Temple. At some point during his early childhood the family moved to Australia. He attended Neutral Bay Superior Public School and Sydney Technical High School between 1912 and 1915.(1). He lived at 11 Colin Street in North Sydney and worked as an apprentice artificial limb maker before he enlisted 31st May 1916 aged 18.

He enlisted as a Private and embarked on board HMAT A40 Ceramic from Sydney on 7 October 1916 and disembarked at Plymouth, UK on 21 November 1916. He marchd in to the 1st Training Battalion at Larkhill.(2)

Keith Temple completed a course of instruction in bombing and qualifying as ‘good’ in  Group Grenade School on 10 February 1917. He proceeded overseas to France 20th March 1917 and was taken on strength with the 2nd Battalion. 

On the 19th of July 1917, Keith became unwell and was treated by field ambulance. He was admitted to 9 General Hospital at Rouen 25th July due to suffering from rheumatism and a fever. He was moved to No 2 Convalescent Depot in late July and then to depot 7th August.

He returned to hospital with an infection on 4th October 1917. He was discharged to Base Depot 8th December 1917.

Once again he was admitted to hospital 7th January 1918 due to a problem with his left foot. He was transferred to hospital in England on 14th February and diagnosed with necrosed bone toe. The following day, he was admitted to Royal Victoria Hospital(4). He was granted furlough and reported to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital 1st April.

On the 8th of April 1918, Keith embarked to return to Australia sailing on Hospital Ship Dunluce Castle. He was discharged but then reenlisted for Home  service in the Medical Corps to start a workshop at Ranwick Hospital for the fitting of artifical limbs and other appliances. He served until June 1919 when he was discharged.

He applied for passage to the US and later became integrated as a full American citizen. Keith fell in love with the culture in his new home; New Orleans and with that he met a woman named Anice who became his wife of 46 years. They had no children. 

In 1919, Keith was hired by the Times Picayune as a reporter. When Keith was a student he was known for being a creative and intellectual individual and with his newfound home and inspiration from both Australian and American culture, Keith pursued his passion for art. In 1923, Keith became a well known political cartoonist for the Times Picayune. Keith composed a variety of cartoons and was praised for his insight. Keith’s various works included and portrayed the rise and fall of Huey Long Dynasty, The Great Depression, World War II, the Korean War and US involvement in South East Asia. 

During 1927, Keith received a law degree from Loyola University Keith and became one of the few political cartoonist lawyers at the time. His cartoons are now housed in four presidential libraries and have appeared in periodicals throughout the world. In 1929, Keith studied art at the old arts and craft school on royal street early into his newspaper career. He was recognised for his work and is believed to receive various accolades, possibly including a Pulitzer Prize. Keith retired in 1967 and moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi with Anice. After his retirement, Keith devoted his time to painting, drawing the rich heritage of New Orleans and South Louisiana. His paintings reflected on the 19th century and portraying modern life. 

Keith died from a self-inflicted gun wound at the age of 80 in 1980 in his Hattiesburg home.