Satires, they are described as having "much gentle irony and are occasionally clairvoyant in their political speculation." World War II At the outbreak of World War II Gandar-Dower was in the Belgian Congo photographing gorillas. Returning to England, he then worked on the Mass-Observation project with Tom Harrisson before being hired by the Government of Kenya to improve its public relations with the native inhabitants, producing a number of works that the government considered "excellent". Later he acted as a war correspondent, covering campaigns in Abyssinia and Madagascar, travelling vast distances by bicycle and canoe. During the unresisted assault on Tamatave in eastern Madagascar he leapt from an amphibious vessel wearing a bowler hat, carrying a camera in one hand and typewriter in the other. On 6 February 1944 Gandar-Dower boarded the SS Khedive Ismail at Kilindini Harbour at Mombasa, bound for Colombo. While approaching Addu Atoll in the Maldives, on 12 February 1944, the vessel was attacked by Japanese submarine I-27. Struck by two torpedoes, the Khedive Ismail sank in two minutes, with a death toll of 1297, Gandar-Dower among them. Gandar-Dower's obituary in Wisden stated that "he was one of the most versatile player of games of any period." A wealthy man, Gandar-Dower left over £75,000 in his will. References Fage, J., Clark, D., Roberts, A. and Oliver, R. (1986) The Cambridge History of Africa: From 1905 to 1940, Cambridge University Press, . Haigh, G. (2006) Peter the Lord's Cat and other unexpected obituaries from Wisden, Aurum Press, London. . Lewis, J. (2000) Empire State-building: War & Welfare in Kenya, 1925–52, Ohio State University Press, . Shaw, K. (2009) Curing Hiccups With Small Fires, Boxtree: London. . Footnotes and citations External links Forgotten Travellers: Driven by Devils Essay on K. C. Gandar Dower 1908 births 1944 deaths Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge British civilians killed in World War II British male tennis players Cryptozoologists English aviators English explorers English male squash players English male tennis players English real tennis players People educated at Harrow School People educated at Windlesham House School Tennis people from Greater London War correspondents of World War II Journalists killed while covering World War II