Place Name
William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse (September 26, 1887 – April 27, 1915) was the first airman to be awarded the Victoria Cross. At the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps. He was mortally injured following a mission to bomb a railway junction at Kortrijk, Belgium, on April 26, 1915. After dropping his bomb he came under heavy small arms fire but managed to return to base where he died the following day. 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. He has since died of his wounds.” He was buried at the family home Parnham House, Beaminster, Dorset, and later the ashes of his son, who was killed in the Battle ion Britain, were placed alongside him. This road is part of the Haig Housing Trust’s Headquarters’ estate for veterans and their families, which was completed in 2019.
