Hamdi Bey was born to Haji Mahmud Efendi in 1861 in Margariti,[2] modern northwestern Greece (Chameria).
After studying at the local madrasah he joined the ranks of the Ottoman military forces.
In the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 he commanded troops in the Preveza area, for which he became Kaymakam (Lieutenant Colonel) of the Ottoman Army.
(Mim-Mim) Group July 21, 1921, during the Turkish War of Independence.
He was interned for allegedly taking part in the Izmir Conspiracy against Mustafa Kemal, but was released August 26, 1926, because no evidence connecting him to the incident was found.