Keith Shadforth Sheen Dowling was born on 30 June 1889 at Neutral Bay, New South Wales, to parents Neville and Marie Stuart Dowling (nee Russell). He worked as a shipping clerk in New South Wales, before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 8 March 1917.
Dowling was assigned to the Field Artillery Brigade with the initial rank of private and later gunner. He embarked from Sydney on 5 November 1917, aboard HMAT Port Sydney, joining the 7th Field Artillery Brigade upon his arrival in England. Once in the field in France, in April 1918, Dowling was assigned to the 107th Australian (Howitzer) Battery. His unit saw action within the major battles along the Western Front, including the battles at Amiens, Mont St Quentin, St Quentin Canal. Dowling remained on the Western Front until the war's end, returning to Australia in August 1919.
After returning to Australia, Keith Dowling married Thelma Florence Balchin at Chatswood, New South Wales. They lived in the Sydney area, where Dowling worked as a merchant. Keith and Thelma Dowling had two children, Keith Ian Balchin and Judith.
Keith Dowling's two brothers also enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. Eric Sheen Dowling, served with the 1st Light Horse Brigade, and died of wounds in Palestine, on 18 November 1917. Bruce Sheen Dowling served with the 3rd Field Company Australian Engineers at was awarded the Military Cross on 25 July 1918.
Dowling served during the Second World War with 7th Australian Garrison Battalion, Australian Military Forces. In the later 1940s, the family moved to Muswellbrook, New South Wales, where Dowling worked as a grazier.
Keith Shadforth Sheen Dowling died on 18 July 1971 in Sydney.