They moved to England and raised four children, including William, who went to Harrow School and (briefly) Trinity Hall, Cambridge, which he left in 1909.

[3] Besides designing aircraft he competed in aviation races and was the first to cross the English Channel, from Douai to Ashford, Kent, with two passengers, his wife and a London Evening News journalist, in a biplane.

[4] On a visit to New Zealand in 1907 while practising for a motorcycle race on New Brighton Beach, Christchurch, he killed Kennett Frederick Gourlay, a seven-year-old child who had run out in front of him.

He released his 100 lb (45 kg) bomb and was immediately plunged into a heavy barrage of small arms fire from rifles and a machine-gun in the belfry of Kortrijk Church; he was severely wounded by a bullet in his thigh, and his plane was badly hit.

The citation for his award read as follows: "For most conspicuous bravery on 26th April, 1915, in flying to Courtrai and dropping bombs on the railway line near that station.

On starting the return journey he was mortally wounded, but succeeded in flying for 35 miles to his destination, at a very low altitude, and reported the successful accomplishment of his object.

"[8] His body was returned to England and buried at the family home Parnham House, Beaminster, Dorset, and later the ashes of his son were placed alongside him.