Sir William was named a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1924, a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1918, a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919, and a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in 1900. He also received a Territorial Decoration. His many military posts included: hon. Brig.-Gen. T.F. Reserves; hon. Col. of the Staffordshire Yeomanry; formerly commanding officer of the 4th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa, late Lt.-Col. commanding the Staffordshire Yeomanry; and commander of the 22nd Mounted Brigade, Egyptian Expedition Force with a rank of Brigadier-General (1916-17). Military honours include: Belgian Croix de Guerre, Officer of the Crown of Italy, and Officer of the Legion of Honour. Sir William was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford. Bromley-Davenport also held many other official positions. He was Justice of the Peace and Lord Lieutenant (from 1920) for Cheshire, Financial Secretary to the War Office from 1903-05, a Civil Member of the Army Council (1904-05), and a Member of Parliament for the Macclesfield Division of Cheshire (1886-1906). In 1917-18 he was Assistant Director of Labour, and a Labour Commandant from 1918-19. He died unmarried and thus was succeeded in the Capesthorne Hall (Cheshire) estate by his nephew, Lt.-Col. Sir Walter Henry Bromley-Davenport.