Keith Wilson

Who was Keith Wilson?

Sir Keith Cameron Wilson was a lawyer and Australian politician, sitting in both houses of federal parliament.

Born 3 September 1900 in Adelaide, a son of lawyer A. T. K. Wilson and his wife Lilian, he attended St Peter's Collegiate School, Adelaide, and studied law at the University of Adelaide. His grandfather, C. A. Wilson, and great-grandfather, Thomas Wilson, were also lawyers who practised in South Australia.

In 1930 he married Elizabeth Hornabrook Bonython, born in Adelaide, the eldest daughter of Adelaide Advertiser editor, and Lord mayor of Adelaide, Sir John Lavington Bonython and his first wife Blanche Ada Bray.

In the Australian federal election, 1934 he was, with J. L. Price, nominated by the Liberal and Country League for the seat of Boothby. Price was the winning candidate.

In the Australian federal election, 1937, Keith was elected a Senator for South Australia for the United Australia Party, serving from 1938 to 1944. In 1940 he joined the army, continuing to serve in the Senate. He was not re-elected in 1943, so when his term ended, he went on active service and became a "Rat of Tobruk", serving with the 2/7th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, in North Africa, and subsequently in Borneo.