Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas (Charles) Isaac, a huntsman of hounds, born 1855 in Mylor Bridge, Cornwall, and was baptised on the 29th October 1855 in the Parish of Mylor and his wife Emily Isaac (nee Goodall, married on the 19th October 1882 in Woburn Sands, Bedfordshire), born 1856 in Woburn Sands, Bedfordshire. John Goodall was born in the 2nd quarter of 1894 in Medbourne, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Emily May, born 1891, Frank Gordon, born 1893, Arthur David, born in the 4th quarter of 1895 and Katherine Bruce, born 1899, all his siblings were born in Medbourne, in March 1901 the family home was at Manor House, Medbourne. In April 1911 John was absent from the family home in St. Mary’s Road, Great Bowden, Leicestershire, residing there was his father a retired huntsman, his mother and siblings, Seggie, born 1888 in Brixworth, Northamptonshire and Katherine Bruce, a schoolgirl, born 1899 in Medbourne. John also had the following four elder siblings, Thomas John, born 1883, William Charles, born 1884 and Gertrude Ellen, born 1886, the latter three siblings were all born in Brixworth and Alice Robina, born 1890, in Medbourne. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals, and was also awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field, London Gazette date, 27th October 1916. His younger brother Arthur also fell in action.
The War Diary records: 18 Aug-16 – Ref Map No. X 13 XV Corps. At 2.45pm the 6th Battalion SOMERSET LIGHT INFANTRY and 6th Battalion DUKE OF CORNWALL’S LIGHT INFANTRY attacked the enemy positions from S.18.b.0.8. to S.18.d.6.4. inclusive. Six guns in two sections of 3 each under an officer and the necessary other ranks were told off to assist the attacking Battalions. They had orders to go up in the event of each Battalion taking its objectives and to take up the best positions possible from which to assist in repelling any counter attacks that might be delivered. The 3 guns to co-operate with the 6th SOMERSET LIGHT INFANTRY were under 2nd Lieutenant E. V. WOOD and were given as their objectives points S.18.d.7.5. – T.13.c.2.7½. – and near the junction of VAT ALLEY and BEER TRENCH. These 3 guns succeeded in reaching these points with only 1 casualty. The men lay outside DELVILLE WOOD and taking advantage of crump holes etc. advanced in extended order at 3.30pm and remained in action until relieved at 2.30am 20 August by 42nd MACHINE GUN COMPANY suffering no casualties but one tripod was destroyed by shell fire. 2nd Lieutenant E. V. WOOD was unfortunately wounded shortly after his gun had arrived in the captured trench. Lieutenant E. W. MUSCHAMP was in charge of the 3 guns co-operating with the 6th DUKE OF CORNWALL’S LIGHT INFANTRY and had as his objectives points S.18.b.7.9. – T.13.a.7.0. and the junction of HOP ALLEY with BEER TRENCH. Owing to the DUKE OF CORNWALL’S LIGHT INFANTRY failure to hold on to the captured trenches the two guns told off for the two left positions were unable to go forward and the 3rd gun in making its way to the top of HOP ALLEY was knocked out the team were all wounded and the gun destroyed by a direct hit. Lieutenant E. W. MUSCHAMP attempted to take one gun from its position about S.18.b.7.4. to the head of the sap S.18.b.9.5. unfortunately he was severely wounded in the head and all the team with the exception of one man. The remaining gun under a Sergeant remained in its position about S.18.b.1.7. Private GRANT (Stretcher bearer) having volunteered to go with these 3 guns – behaved with great gallantry and rendered first aid under continuous shelling and has been recommended for the D.C.M. About 10.00pm on the 18 August 2nd Lieutenant J. R. BORROW was sent up with two guns to take up positions as follows S.18.b.9.5. and the junction of HOP ALLEY with BEER TRENCH which he accomplished without any casualties in spite of severe shelling on the way up. During these operations 2nd Lieutenant ANDREWS with 4 guns had remained in the trenches in DELVILLE WOOD occupied by the 6th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY, his guns kept up a steady barrage all the afternoon of the 18th and his left gun about S.18.a.2½. 2½. caught the enemy in enfilade whilst attempting to counter attack the Brigade (41st) on our left inflicting severe losses on the enemy. Total casualties during operations: 2 officers wounded. 3 other ranks killed, 14 wounded.
The War Diary records: 19 Aug-16 - Ref Map No. X 13 XV Corps. All 10 guns in the line relieved by 41st and 42nd
On Friday September 8th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – HUNTMAN’S SON KILLED. News has been received that Pte. Jack Isaac, son of Mr. Charles Isaac, late huntsman to Mr. Fernie’s Hounds, has been killed in action. Deceased was 21 years of age, and was attached to the Royal Machine Gun Section. Quite recently he was recommended for the Military Medal for a brave action. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac have received a letter from a sergeant of the company, in which he says referring to Pte. Isaac’s death:- “They were sticking to their gun most gallantly, when they were hit by a large shell which killed them all instantly.” The deceased enlisted in the Duke of Cornwall’s L.I. and was subsequently transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. He had been on active service for 18 months. Deceased was a prominent army cross country runner, and on one occasion at some army sports finished first in a field of 300. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac have three other sons serving with the forces, two in the Northern Yeomanry and one in the Bedfords.