Above: Armed with holstered large frame revolver and a Swinburne-Henry express rifle William Hyder Abdel Malek of the Uganda Civil Service posed for an unnamed itinerant
photographer somewhere in British East Africa c. 1899. Wearing kit probably purchased from a London-based outfitter he appears to have been photographed outdoors in front of a
slightly tattered painted canvas backdrop. This is probably the same "uniform" he wore while taking part in the suppression of mutinous Sudanese riflemen in East Africa and
Uganda in 1897-98.

The photograph bears a very faint pencil inscription on its reverse side which can only be read in angled light. It reads: "William Hyder eldest son of Abdelgani Hyder Abdel Malek.
Married Edith Roberts of Dolawel, Wales. Went to Africa. Boer War?"

Over Sized Cabinet Photograph
5 1/2 Inches by 8 1/2 Inches
(14 cm x 21.5 cm)
Unknown Photographer
Uganda/British East Africa
c. 1899

William received part of his education at public grammar school along with his two brothers Esmond Morgan and Joseph Russelan.  The records pertaining to William’s adult career
are scant and he must have entered the Civil Service sometime in the 1890s. He took an active part in the field against mutinous Sudanese troops in Uganda/East Africa during 1897-98
which is recounted in part in With MacDonald in Uganda by Major Herbert H. Austin, C.M.G., D.S.O., R.E. (1903). Always referred to as Mr. Malek in the text of With MacDonald
reflecting his civil position in the Uganda administration, on more than one occasion he was in command of mixed detachments of loyal Sudanese troops and locally raised native levies.
His little commands often included a Maxim gun and conducted riverine patrols in canoes. For a time he was invalided with fever. For his part in putting down the mutiny William
Hyder Abdel Malek was entitled to the East and Central Africa Medal with clasps "Lubwa's" and "Uganda 1897-98".

Returning to Wales in 1898 he married Miss Edith Anne Roberts at Merionethshire, Wales on 9 November 1898. After a relatively short respite, he returned to British East Africa but
died from dysentery at Eldama Ravine Station in East Africa on 2 April 1899.


* As is typical for the time period, the Arabic surname of Abdel Malek can be found in more than a few variations even when dealing with this single family. While doing this
research the name was found as Abdul Malek, Abdelmalek, Abdel-Malek, Abdel Maleck to list but a few.