Keith Campbell was born in Eastney Barracks, Eastney, Portsmouth on 23 December 1892, the son of Captain (later Major General) Gunning Morehead Campbell, Royal Marine Artillery and Mrs Charlotte Sophia Jean Campbell (née Viner). He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet on 15 September 1905, and was promoted to Midshipman on 15 May 1910 and appointed to the battleship HMS St. VINCENT, serving in that ship until June 1911, before joining the cruiser HMS COCHRANE. In May 1912 he was appointed to the cruiser HMS ACHILLIES. Keith Campbell was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 30 July 1913. On 6 June 1913 he joined the cruiser HMS DIDO. He was appointed to the Torpedo Boat Destroyer HMS LAWFORD on 26 March 1914.

He was appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS ARROGANT ‘for Submarines‘ on 30 November 1914 and was appointed to HMS C31 as Third Hand. C31 left for a patrol off the Belgian Coast on 4 January 1915 with orders to return to Harwich on 7 January. It is believed that the submarine struck a mine off the coast of Belgium.

Keith Campbell is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Panel No. 7.