Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Lester, an iron foundry labourer, born 13th December 1847 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and baptised on the 13th December 1847 in All Saint’s Church, Loughborough and his wife Lois Lester (nee Watson, married on the 7th March 1869 in Loughborough), a hosiery trade yarn winder, born 1850 in Loughborough. Isaac, a schoolboy, was born in the 1st quarter of 1884 in Loughborough and was baptised on the 17th September 1884 in All Saint’s Church, Loughborough, his siblings were Elizabeth, a hosiery trade yarn winder, born 1870, Caroline, a schoolgirl, born 1878, William, a schoolboy, born 12th June 1879, Eliza, a schoolgirl, born 1886 and George, born 25th September 1887, all his siblings were born in Loughborough, in April 1891 the family home was at Nottingham Road, Loughborough. In March 1901Isaac was employed as a boiler works labourer and was residing in the family home at 72, Nottingham Road, Loughborough, together with his father, a tent maker’s labourer, his mother and siblings William, a boiler riveter, Eliza, a hosiery trade machinist and George. Isaac also had two other older siblings, Prudence, born 1873 and Catherine, born 1876, both siblings were born in Loughborough. In the 1st quarter of 1912, Isaac married Elizabeth Teasdale in Loughborough, Elizabeth was born in the 3rd quarter of 1889 in Loughborough. They had a son George E., born 21st March 1912 in Loughborough. Isaac’s mother died in December 1919 in Carlton Hayes Hospital, Narborough, Leicestershire, aged 69 and his father died in September 1925 in Loughborough, aged 78.
Isaac’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the King’s Own Scottish Borderers on the 12th January 1904, being allotted the service number 8645, and was posted as a Private to the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. It is assumed that Isaac had been transferred to the 1st Class Army Reserve having completed his first period of Colour service. It is again assumed that upon the outbreak of war he was recalled to the Colours and was posted to the 2nd Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers and with this Battalion he embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France disembarking on the 15th August 1914, 24 days later, on the 8th September he was killed in action. He was awarded the 1914 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 7 Sept-14 – COURTRY. At 1:00am moved to COURTRY and bivouacked. 10:00am. Advanced guard to Brigade on BOISSY, bivouacked in road.
The War Diary records: 8 Sept-14 – BOISSY. To bivouac on road North of BOISSY.
The War Diary records: 9 Sept-14 – NOISEMENT. 5:00am. On MAUROY – Held by enemy at MAUROY – Battalion in support of KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY – came under heavy shrapnel fire and reformed in a wood – Adjutant lost horse killed – ST. CYR taken in the evening – 5:00pm - enemy retreating and heavily shelled as he crossed the MARNE at LA FERTE – Bivouac at NOISEMENT.
On Friday October 9th 1914 The Leicester Journal published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – News was received from the War Office by the widow on Tuesday night of the death, killed in action, on September 8, of Private Isaac Lester, of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, a regiment that has been badly cut up. Private Lester’s three Loughborough friends are said to be among the missing of this regiment. He was a Reservist who worked at the Falcon, and had a wife and three children dependent. He was 32 years of age, and joined the K.O.S.B. when 18.