Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Victor Hugh Keay, born on 7 December 1896 at Timaru and known as Vic, was the fifth son of John and Christina Binnie (née Smart) Keay, of Timaru. John and Christina, who both hailed from Scotland, married in 1880 at Knox Church, Dunedin. The first five of their ten children were born in Otago. Ernest the seventh child, was born after the move to Timaru. The two eldest children started their schooling at Port Chalmers. When the family moved to Timaru in October 1890, they transferred to Timaru Main School. Victor was educated at the Timaru Main School located close to his home, joining his older siblings there in February 1902. There he gained his Certificate of Proficiency at the Sixth Standard examinations in 1910. Victor went on to the Timaru Technical School, where he was awarded a certificate in Typewriting (Second Year) in October 1912.

At the annual meeting for Timaru Main School in April 1904, it was reported that the “new janitor, Mr Keay, entered upon his duties at the beginning of the year, and has given unqualified satisfaction, his kindly interest in the children, and ready assistance in everything connected with the school, being greatly appreciated.” The new janitor was John Keay senior. At the 1906 annual meeting, Mr Keay was thanked for the thorough manner in which his duties had been performed. In December of the same year, Mr Keay, the janitor, was voted a special donation of £1 from the committee, in recognition of his excellent services in connection with the garden party. The committee would also again express it appreciation, at the 1907 annual meeting, of the services of the janitor, Mr Keay, “who has always performed his duties in a painstaking and highly satisfactory manner.” At a function in December 1909, opportunity was also taken by the staff of “marking their appreciation of the many kindnesses shown them by Mr and Mrs Keay, the headmaster presenting them with a handsome piece of silverware, as a gift from the teachers.” When school committee members visited the school on its opening for the 1914 year, it was reported that the school had never looked better or cleaner than it was at that time. The outhouses were also nice and clean and also the gardens and grounds. The visitors had not been better satisfied on any visit to the school, and it was a credit to Mr Keay, the janitor.

V. Keay played for Cambridge in a junior hockey match in August 1913 – “V. Keay shows good promise and should next year find a place in the seniors.” In 1914 he was back on the field with the Cambridge juniors, though he was selected to play in the Cambridge combined team in June. At the Trinity Church Jubilee Fancy Fair in early November 1914, Victor was placed second out of ten entries in the Men’s section – sponge roll. Victor H. Keay was listed on the 1916 Reserve Rolls. The Keay family’s musical talent showed at the 1917 Anzac commemorations in Timaru. The Band played the Dead March in “'Saul,” after which the proceedings closed with the Last Post, which was well played by Bandsmen V. Keay, G. Lowry, and P. Segar. Victor Hugh Keay, clerk, Education Office, Timaru had been drawn in the ballot to fill vacancies in the 30th Reinforcements, a week or so before Anzac Day. Then in early May 1917, Victor H. Keay, clerk, Theodocia Street, Timaru was drawn in the ballot to complete South Canterbury’s quota of the 31st Reinforcements.

Victor Hugh Keay enlisted at Timaru on 2 May 1917. A clerk in the employ of the Timaru Gas and Coal Company, he was residing in Theodocia Street, Timaru. Single and Presbyterian, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Christina B. Keay, 75 Harper Street, Timaru. He belonged to the 7th NZ Army Service Corps, having transferred from the 8th South Canterbury Mounted Rifles. He had been examined by the Travelling Medical Board at Timaru on the same day. Standing at 5 feet 7 inches and weighing 138 pounds, with a chest measurement of 31-35 inches, he had a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. While his sight was only 6/24 in both eyes, his hearing, colour vision and lungs were all normal, and his limbs and chest well formed. He was free from diseases and vaccinated but was not in good bodily and mental health or free from any physical defects likely to interfere with the efficient performance of his duties. His heart was not normal, with a diffuse apex beat. He had had rheumatic fever 5 years ago. He was classified C2, that is, permanently unfit for active service but fit for service in New Zealand. He was re-examined at Timaru on 10 October 1917. There were slight defects but not sufficient to cause rejection - defective vision - improved by glasses. He had VDH (valvular disease of the heart) and the apex of his right lung was defective - no active mischief. A further examination was carried by the C2 Re-examination Board on 22 November 1917. His right eye was now correcting to 6/6. He had never been absent from work through ill health or accident. His disability was physique only.

Keay was granted leave without pay to 13 January 1918. He left home and entered camp on 14 January 1918. He had no complaints as of 22 January and felt fit. A Medical Board was assembled at Tauherenikau Camp on 25 February 1918, to report on the state of health of 73507 Private V. H. Keay, E Company C1 Camp. His original disabilities were defective eyesight and slight VDH, which were both hereditary and acquired. He had done very little training. A Medical Board was assembled at Tauherenikau Camp again on 21 March 1918, to report on the state of health of 73507 Private V. H. Keay, E Company. His original disabilities were defective eyesight and VDH, which were both hereditary and acquired. Progress was fair. He was not yet fit for Active Service. Private Keay was transferred between D Company and H Company. In April 1918, he was confined to barracks for six days and forfeited three days’ pay for overstaying leave. There was a report on his eyesight on 16 April 1918. He spent two weeks at Headquarters at Tauherenikau in May-June 1918. Yet another Medical Board was assembled, this time at Featherston Camp on 8 August 1918, to report on the state of health of 73507 Private V. H. Keay, E Company C1 Camp. His original disability was now “Physique only”, which was hereditary and acquired, the specific cause unknown. There were consequential disabilities. Keay himself complained of rheumatism in the chest. His progress was good. He was deemed fit for Active Service. Transferred to the 45th Reinforcements in August, he was then transferred to the 46th Reinforcements in September. There was a further report on his eyesight on 26 August 1918. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on 23 September 1918. No. 73507 Corporal V. H. Keay, D Company, 46th Reinforcement, was demobilized on leave without pay from Featherston Camp on 29 November 1918. When questioned by the Medical Officer as to whether he had any disability due to Military Service, Keay replied: No. He was discharged on 7 August 1919 on the termination of his period of engagement.

Returning to Timaru, Victor resumed his employment as a clerk with the Gas Company. He married Isabel Ritchie Collett, a music teacher, on 31 March 1920 at Chalmers Church, Timaru. His youngest sister Una was a witness. The only son of Victor and Isabel – Victor Munro Keay – was born at Whare Nana, Timaru, on 29 June 1921. At the half-yearly meeting of Timaru Lodge No. 11 in June 1920, Bro V. Keay was elected minute secretary. He was one of the delegates to the Grand Orange Lodge Conference in Auckland at Easter 1922. In 1923 he was appointed secretary. October 1922, V. H. Keay was playing cricket for Star A. He was also the secretary of the Star Cricket Club, which held a plain and flannel dance in November. The next year he was the Star delegate to the South Canterbury Cricket Association. When the Timaru Pipe Band held its first annual meeting on 16 July 1924, Mr V. H. Keay, the auditor, congratulated the band on its good financial position. He was a representative of Timaru No. 11 Lodge at the thirty-sixth annual session of the Grand Lodge of Canterbury U.A.O. Druids at Christchurch in early March 1926. On the second day he was elected to the board of Management. V. Keay was already in the employ of the South Canterbury Hospital Board as of March 1926 when an increase in salary was recommended. He was elected to the Timaru South School committee in 1928, perhaps earlier, and was re-elected in 1929, a position he held for some time. Victor gave a song and Mrs Keay was one of the accompanists at a concert held in April 1929 in aid of the funds to establish a suitable library for the South School. When the headmaster of Timaru South retired in May 1930, Mr Keay and two others contributed a short musical programme before the presentation, and Mrs Keay was the accompanist. He was appointed assistant secretary to the Jubilee Committee preparing for celebrations in February 1931. Mr Keay was president of the Te Kara Tennis Club, which had its courts at the Timaru Park, in 1930. He was elected a vice-president in 1933 and again in 1subsequent years. He was elected president of the Timaru Radio Club in 1933. This club also had social evenings with cards and dancing. At the September 1933 meeting of the Radio Club a very interesting talk was given by the president (Mr V. H. Keay) on Broadcasting in New Zealand. Mr Keay pointed out the benefits broadcasting had given to New Zealand, comparing the system in other countries with that in N.Z. Even in 1934, the club, although relatively small, was involved in hospital wireless. Radio reception in Timaru was not without its problems. At the Timaru Druids Lodge No. 11 meeting in June 1934, Brother V. H. Keay gave a blackboard demonstration of preferential voting. He was elected a Lodge officer in November 1934. The United Friendly Societies’ annual church parade was held on 24 March 1935, members assembling at the Grand Hotel corner, and headed by the Timaru Municipal Band, marching through Stafford Street to St. Mary’s Church. Included among those on parade was Grand Guardian Bro. V. Keay.

On retiring from the position of president of the Timaru Radio Club in April 1935, Mr V. H. Keay was presented with a set of pipes from the members in recognition of his services to the club. Mr Keay suitably replied. In March 1936, the Administrative Office Staff committee of the South Canterbury Hospital Board recommended that the position of accountant be created and Mr V. H. Keay appointed at a salary of £350 p.a. an increase of £25 p.a. At the July 1937 meeting of the Timaru Lodge, the Lodge closed early, the occasion being a complimentary social to Grand President Bro. V. H. Keay. In October, Grand President Bro. V. H. Keay was admitted and welcomed with the Druidic fire and musical honours. And in December, three candidates were presented and initiated, the team which is competing in the Ritual Competition carrying out the Initiation ceremony. G.P. Bro. V. H. Keay, was admitted and welcomed with musical honours. Victor Keay was selected for the Grand Jury for a criminal trial at the Timaru Supreme Court in May 1938. About the same time, Grand President Brother V. H. Keay (Timaru) presided over the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of Canterbury, Ancient Order of Druids, which was being held at Timaru for the first time in 24 years, with delegates attending from all lodges throughout the province and from guest lodges further afield. On this same occasion, a set of Past Grand President’s regalia was presented to the retiring Grand President, Brother V. H. Keay. At the smoke concert held on in August 1940 to celebrate the fifty-eighth anniversary of the Druids Lodge, Victor was a member of a quartette which gave a number of items.

He was one of two Braves elected at the annual meeting of the Savage in April 1941, and again in 1942. The third korero of the season was held by the South Canterbury Savage Club in late June 1941, “and it proved as successful and as enjoyable as its predecessors. The chairman for the evening was Brave V. Keay, who is deserving of credit in having organised such a splendid programme.” “No effort was spared by Brave V. H. Keay to give Savages an evening’s entertainment of quality when he conduc[t]ed the third korero of the season in the Bay Tearooms on Thursday night [June 1942]. Difficult as is the task of those chosen to present programmes on account of the absence with the Forces of so many performers, those who can assist are rallying splendidly, and are deserving of thanks for their much appreciated efforts. Savagery does not permit criticism, but apart from this the need does not exist, for there is universal recognition that performers give of their best, and that best is generally good. All the performers on Thursday night were accorded a splendid reception, their efforts, combining to place the korero on the same high plane as those that have gone.” In 1943, he was again elected a Brave, and in 1944 elected Great Chief. During the third korero of the season, in June 1944, “the emblems of the original Timaru Savage Club, formed in 1905, were presented to Great Chief V. Keay by Ex-Great Chief C. Snow, in whose custody the moa bone, dagger, pipe and greenstone tiki have been for 30 years. Accepting the emblems, Great Chief Keay gave an assurance that they would be treasured by the South Canterbury Savage Club.” When the seventh korero of the South Canterbury Savage Club was held in August 1944, Great Chief V. H. Keay was unable to be present, owing to an accident. When an extra korero was held in September, Great Chief V. H. Keay and his council were congratulated on the good work they had done and the fine koreros presented during the season. At the annual meeting in April 1945, Victor Keay was elected Ex-Great Chief; and in May opportunity was taken by the Great Chief to present to Ex-Great Chief V. H. Keay a gold tiki in recognition of his year of office as Great Chief.

When the first inter-provincial men’s croquet match in the history of croquet in the South Island was played on the United Croquet Club lawns, Christchurch, between teams from Canterbury and South Canterbury in December 1942, Victor played both doubles and singles, and won both, although the Canterbury team won overall. Mrs Keay was already a croquet player, and at representative level, as well as the honorary treasurer of the Aorangi Club. In 1940 Mr V. Keay had been elected auditor of the croquet club and was a playing member in November of that year. In May 1942 he was elected a vice-president of the South Canterbury Croquet Association, and in May 1943 and 1944 the handicapper. At the annual meeting of Chalmers Presbyterian Church on 23 August 1945, Mr V. H. Keay presented the report of the Deacons’ Court.

Victor and Isabel spent their entire married life in Timaru, firstly in Hassall Street, then at 20 Marston Road, where Victor Hugh Keay died suddenly on 24 January 1948, aged 51 years. After a funeral service at his residence, which was attended by members of Timaru Lodge No. 11 and Lodge Koranga 197, he was buried at the Timaru Cemetery. At the time of his death, he had been with the South Canterbury Hospital Board for 22 years, lastly as accountant. He willed (1937) that his property be held in trust for his wife and in the event of her predeceasing him, to be held for his children. Victor was survived by his wife Isabel and only son, Victor. Isabel lived 34 years a widow, dying in May 1982 and buried with Victor. Victor Munro Keay, their only son, served with the Air Force in World War Two. His grave in the Timaru Cemetery is marked with a Services plaque (1985).

His brothers David Smith Laing Keay and Ernest James Keay both served in World War One. Their eldest brother, John Keay, had married secondly, in 1912, Edith Rose Bladin, a sister of John Shore Bladin who served with the New Zealand Forces and Henry William Bladin who served with the Australian Forces and died of wounds in France in 1917. Edith died at Timaru just seven months after marriage. John Keay, engine driver, 12 Bank Street, Timaru, who was called up in 1917, was drawn by lot from the Second Division, Class C in August 1918. This was probably Victor’s oldest brother.

Sources

NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5541 0062817) [30 March 2016]; NZ BDM Indexes (bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz) [08 August 2014]; School Admission Record (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [28 March 2016]; Timaru Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [28 March 2016]; Timaru Herald, 22 April 1904, 20 April 1906, 7 December 1906, 20 April 1907, 14 December 1909, 21 January 1911, 12 October 1912, 2 August 1913, 6 February 1914, 14 May 1914, 2 & 18 June 1914, 16 & 30 July 1914, 5 November 1914, 18 & 26 April 1917, 9 May 1917, 12 July 1917, 21 & 28 August 1917, 17 September 1917, 21 August 1918, 20 April 1920, 25 June 1920, 30 June 1921, 12 April 1922, 21 October 1922, $ & 7 November 1922, 23 March 1923, 7 September 1923, 25 March 1926, 17 April 1928, 16 & 20 April 1929, 17 May 1930, 19 September 1930, 20 October 1930, 13 April 1933, 9 & 30 September 1933, 23 June 1934, 3 October 1934, 23 November 1934, 25 March 1935, 24 April 1935, 18 March 1936, 16 July 1937, 8 October 1937, 4 December 1937, 4, 5 & 6 May 1938, 11 May 1940, 9 August 1940, 21 November 1940, 1 May 1941, 28 June 1941, 1 & 8 May 1942, 27 June 1942, 25 July 1942, 14 December 1942, 8 May 1943, 29 Apr 1944, 26 June 1944, 21 August 1944, 27 April 1945, 25 May 1945, 24 August 1945, Evening Post, 26 September 1918, Press, 17 July 1924, 1 August 1925, 5 & 6 March 1926, 26 January 1948 (Papers Past) [01 July 2015; 30 March 2016; 01 March 2018; 16 April 2023; 09, 10 & 17 July 2025]; Timaru Herald, 26 January 1948 [x 2], 24 & 25 May 1982 (Timaru District Library) [30 January 2016]; Probate record (Archives NZ/FamilySearch) [30 March 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [30 March 2016; 16 July 2025]; Chalmers Church marriage record (South Canterbury Museum) [30 March 2016]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• KEAY Victor Hugh - newspaper clippings (pdf, 142.3 KB updated 31-Jul-2025)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Scoiety

Currently Assigned to

TS