Whakakiia te rerenga e whai ake nei: I whakaakona a William i te Whare Wānanga o George Watson, ka uru ki te Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, a ka whakauruhia hei tuarua tuarua ki te Royal Artillery o te British Army i te Hanuere 1913. I mahi ia i te Pakanga Tuatahi o te Ao, i toa i te Tohu Ratonga Tohu (DSO) i te
Ko te Pakanga o Le Cateau i te tau 1914 me muri mai ko te Whawhai a te Hoia, a, e wha nga wa i whakahuatia ai i roto i nga korero i roto i te pakanga.