Always known as Syd,[1] he learned the trade of guiding safari hunts from an older generation of professional hunters, including his early mentor Philip Percival.

However, both hunters took a break from their trade when World War II broke out in 1939, joining the British effort in East Africa against the Italians.

[3] As the war in Africa was winding down the British successfully ousted the Italians from Ethiopia, taking back the city of Addis Ababa.

It was at this time that Ker and Downey met again, during an "impromptu meeting of the East African Professional Hunters’ Association," in an Addis Ababa bar.

Ker and Downey had both been moving away from hunting safaris and towards photographic trips, since neither of them particularly enjoyed killing animals, instead preferring the chase.