Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Name: Joseph Keynes
Service Number: 8920
Place of Birth: Keyneton
Date of Birth: 6 January 1895
Place of Enlistment: Adelaide
Date of Enlistment: 16 August 1915
Age at Enlistment: 20 years 7 months
Next of Kin: Mother – Matilda Keynes
Occupation: Sheep farmer
Religion: Congregational
Rank: Private
Joseph embarked A39 Port Macquarie on 16 November 1915 as a Gunner with the 22nd Howitzer Brigade of the 4th Field Artillery
Brigade. After completion of additional training in Egypt, his unit was sent to France on 26 August 1916, where he was wounded in
action, sustaining a gunshot to the back and right shoulder on 29 July 1917. The severity of Joseph’s wound necessitated evacuation
to England on H.S.Warilda where he was admitted to Southampton Hospital and later Bath War Hospital. His mother was notified on 28 November that “Gunner Joseph Keynes was convalescing”.
Upon rejoining his unit in France Joseph was wounded on a second occasion on 15 April 1918 suffering a severe gunshot wound to the
left shoulder and was invalided to Kitchener Military Hospital in England for treatment. He returned to Australia on Ceramic and was
discharged on 20 April 1919.
The Advertiser of Tuesday 9 May 1933 contained the following death notice “DEATH OF MR. JOSEPH KEYNES pastoralist and sportsman. South Australia lost one of its leading pastoralists and sportsmen in the death at Medindie on Sunday night of Mr. Joseph Keynes of Keyneton Estate, near Angaston. Mr. Keynes who was 38 years of age, had been in ill health for about six months. His property was regarded as being one of the most important in the State, and the wool produced there was of the highest standard.
Keyneton Estate was founded by Mr. Keynes’s grandfather, the late Mr. Joseph Keynes, in 1841.
In addition to his prominence as a pastoralist, Mr. Keynes had the reputation of being one of the finest polo players in Australia. He was a member of the famous Mount Crawford polo team, and was noted for his hard riding and keen play. He has been the backbone
of the team in its successes in almost every state.
Mr. Keynes was educated at St. Peter’s College. In 1915 he joined the 104th Howitzer Battery of the Australian Field Artillery, and saw
active service until the armistice was signed. He was twice wounded. In 1924 Mr. Keynes married the daughter of the late Mr. J.B. Lillecrapp of Launceston, England.
He was an active supporter of the Keyneton Congregational Church,
and was a deacon for a number of years. A few years ago he succeeded his father, Mr. Richard Keynes, as the proprietor of Keyneton Estate, and quickly made a name for himself as an
authority on sheep breeding.
Mr. Keynes has left a widow and three children – Richard, Ruth and Mary. Richard the eldest, is aged eight years”.
Mr. J. Keynes.
Source: NAA; B2455; KeynesJ; Barcode 7367850
Interview with Joseph Keynes, November 2016.
JOSEPH KEYNES
Joseph was educated at St. Peter’s College, together with a
governess providing home schooling. He was very active in polo,
being a driving force behind the Mt. Crawford polo Club. His interest
was handed down by his grandfather. He won several awards that
are displayed in the Collingrove dining room. The Keynes family
used their stock horses when training for the regularly attended
polo competitions. It was a commonly shared view that he could
have represented Australia had he not died at the age of 38.
Joe was the first to use superphosphate in the Keyneton region and
ring – barked trees in order to increase the amount of land available
for farming. Joe enlisted in the 1st A.I.F. due to a sense of duty and
adventure.
His grandson Joe stated Joseph’s death was possibly due to
testicular cancer, induced by a fall from a horse.
KEYNES FAMILY BACKGROUND
Joseph Keynes [1st], came to Australia in 1839, being contracted to
G.F. Angas and assisted him in the running of his pastoral pursuits.
When the partnership failed, Joseph bought land in Clare in the
White Hut and Penwortham areas. He married Ellen Robinson of
Clare. Joseph was active in local government and was involved in
changing the name of North Rhine to Keyneton. He purchased land
north and south of the main road in Keyneton, with the family
currently retaining a section of those purchases. Joseph declined the
offer to become a politician.