Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - William akadzidziswa paGeorge Watson's College ndokupinda muRoyal Military Academy, Woolwich uye akagadzwa somutevedzeri wechipiri muBritish Army's Royal Artillery muna January 1913. Akashanda muHondo Yenyika Yokutanga, achikunda Distinguished Service Order (DSO) paHondo yeLe Cateau
muna 1914 uye gare gare Military Cross uye akanzi mumashoko mana munguva yehondo yose.