 In 1879 , at the age of 12 , William was sent to a progressive boarding school , Norfolk County School ( later Watts Naval School ) in the village of North Elmham , Norfolk . He remained there until 1885 , and then spent two further years at University College School , Hampstead , preparing for the matriculation examination that would admit him to the medical school at University College London ( UCL ) . He succeeded at his third attempt , and was ready to start his medical studies in the autumn of 1887 . 
