The First Air VC by Fred Howell
It is not generally known that the first man to be awarded
the Victoria Cross for gallantry whilst engaged on air operations was of Maori
descent His father was English, his mother Maori. He was Lieutenant Rhodes
Moorhouse of the Royal flying Corps. He is depicted on a cigarette card no.120
War Series L, issued by Murray Sons & Co. Ltd, in 1916.
The story of William Rhodes Moorhouse and his family is as intriguing as it is fascinating. Among the first English-men to settle in New Zealand was William Barnard Rhodes, who first arrived in this unbroken country in 1836.
He returned to England and three years later reappeared in NZ to take up permanent residence. Later William was joined by his three brothers, and the four brothers became known as the "Shepherd Kings" after they had acquired vast areas of land in both the North and South Island. William, the eldest brother was twice married but his only family was a daughter Mary Ann (reputedly a Maori princess). During Rhodes first marriage she had been presented to him by her father as a mark of respect and honour. Mary Ann, a full blooded Maori was petite and very beautiful. William and his second wife, Sarah Moorhouse, adopted Mary Ann as their daughter-in-marriage. She grew up and was educated in Wellington. On the death of her father, Mary Ann contested his Will and became sole heiress to upwards of three-quarters of a million pounds. Eventually she married Edward Moorhouse, brother of her step-mother! The wedding ceremony was a lavish affair, held in Wellington Cathedral. Edward and Mary Ann left NZ shortly after their marriage and moved to England, where they settled and raised 4 children. Will Moorhouse, the second child was born in London in 1887. He was educated at Harrow and Cambridge University but always regarded his years at Cambridge as wasted. His passion was for speed and the internal combustion engine. He left Cambridge in 1909- learned to fly, and designed monoplanes in the days of early aviation.