In Memory of Captain JOHN EDMUND VALENTINE ISAAC D S O, Mentioned in Despatches 2nd Bn., Rifle Brigade who died age 35 on 09 May 1915 Served in the South African War. Son of the late John Swinton Isaac, D.L., of Boughton Park, Worcester. His brother, Arthur also fell. Remembered with honour NEW IRISH FARM CEMETERY ISAAC, JOHN EDMUND VALENTINE, Capt., was born 14 Feb. 1880, at Powyke Court, Worcestershire, son of John Swinton Isaac, D.L., of Boughton Park, Worcester, Banker, and Amelia Alicia Anne, daughter of Major-General R. H. Crofton, Royal Artillery. He was educated at Wixenford and Harrow, and was gazetted to the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers at York 9 May, 1900. He joined his regiment in South Africa, on active service, leaving England on 28 June, 1900. He was dangerously wounded at Nooitgedacht (General Clements' action on the Mahaliesburg 13 Dec. 1900); and, after two years' sick leave, went back to duty. He had been gazetted Lieutenant 28 Nov. 1900, and became Captain 1 April, 1905. On the disbandment of his battalion he was gazetted to the Rifle Brigade 24 June, 1908, and subsequently served in Malta and Egypt. In the autumn of 1911 he sent in his papers, and went to Vancouver, British Columbia. On rumours of war he at once returned to England, and joined the Rifle Brigade, Reserve of Officers, 1 Sept. 1914. Capt. J. E. V. Isaac was appointed A.D.C. to Major-General Sir Thompson Capper, Commanding the 7th Division, and went to Flanders on his Staff in Oct. 1914. He was present at the First Battle of Ypres, where he was badly wounded in the left arm. For his services at that time he was mentioned in Despatches, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 1 Dec. 1914]: "John Edmund Valentine Isaac, Capt., Reserve of Officers, The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). He has shown conspicuous gallantry on all occasions, and has always obtained reliable and valuable information when required. On 24 Oct. he guided a unit to a critical point with great skill, which resulted in checking the enemy. He was wounded in the engagement." With his arm still rather useless, he returned to duty on 19 Dec. 1914, and obtained leave to rejoin his regiment, 2nd Battn. Rifle Brigade, 5 May, 1915. Four days later he was killed, leading his men, on the Fromelles Ridge. The " Athletic News " of 6 Sept. 1915, says: "Capt. J. E. V. Isaac (Rifle Brigade), unofficially reported killed, was a member of the well-known Worcestershire cricketing family. Since 1903 lie had been a member of the M.C.C. In Nov. last he received the D.S.O." Capt. Isaac was a good cricketer; played for his county and his regiment. He was a member of I Zingari and the Free Foresters' Club. He won the Cairo Grand National in 1911, while with his regiment in Egypt. He was a keen huntsman and hunted with the Worcestershire, Pytchley, York and Ainsty, etc., etc. Extract from Distinguished Service Order 1886-1915 published by Naval & Military Press In Memory of Second Lieutenant ARTHUR WHITMORE ISAAC 5th Bn. attd. 1st Bn., Worcestershire Regiment who died age 42 on 07 July 1916 Son of the late John Swinton Isaac, D.L., of Boughton Park, Worcester. His brother, John also fell. Remembered with honour THIEPVAL MEMORIAL http://www.jjhc.info/isaacauthur19xx.htm Their brother in law was Lt Col Ernest Charles Forbes WODEHOUSE DSO In Memory of Lieutenant Colonel ERNEST CHARLES FORBES WODEHOUSE D S O 1st Bn., Worcestershire Regiment who died age 43 on 12 March 1915 Son of the late Lt. Col. C. Wodehouse, C.I.E.; husband of A. Violet Wodehouse, of 11, Prince of Wales Terrace, Kensington, London. Remembered with honour LE TOURET MEMORIAL Wodehouse, Ernest Charles Forbes Captain, was born 5 August 1871, at Hove, Brighton, son of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Wodehouse, CIE, Bombay Political Service, at one time Resident of Kolhapur, and of his wife, J Forbes, daughter of George Forbes, of Springhill, Aberdeenshire. He was educated at Wellington College, and Oxford Military College, and joined the Worcestershire Regiment, as Second Lieutenant, 19 October 1892, and was promoted Lieutenant 26 December 1895, and Captain 10 January 1900. He served in the South African War, 1899-1902, as District Adjutant, Heilbron, and as Adjutant, 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, 30 November 1898 to 31 May 1902; during operations in Orange River Colony, May to 29 November 1900, including actions at Bethlehem (6 and 7 July) and Wittebergen (till 29 July); operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900; in the operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900, including actions at Colesberg 1 January to 12 February; operations in the Transvaal 30 November 1900 to May 1901; operations in Orange River Colony, May 1901 to 31 May 1902; was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 16 September 1901, and on another occasion]; received the Queen's Medal with clasps for (1) Wittebergen; (2) Transvaal and (3) Cape Colony, and the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "Ernest Charles Forbes Wodehouse, Captain, Worcestershire Regiment. In recognition of services during the recent operations in South Africa". He was invested by the King 24 October 1902. His DSO was given for good work in South Africa, being Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion from 15 April 1899 to April 1903; was Acting DAAG, Bloemfontein District, from April 1903 to July 1903; Adjutant of 6th Battalion from 10 August 1903 to 1907. He became Major 27 November 1907. Major Wodehouse served in the European War, 1914-15, and commanded the 1st Battalion, as Temporary Lieutenant Colonel, from 1 January to 12 March 1915, when he was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle. He was mentioned in Despatches, dated 31 May 1915, published 22 June 1915, for gallant and distinguished service in the field. A newspaper says: "An official telegram has been received in Worcester announcing the death at the front of Major E C F Wodehouse, who was reported a fortnight ago to be' wounded and missing'. Letters received from other officers at the front caused his friends to entertain the gravest fears for his safety, and they were therefore not unprepared for the worst news. The widespread sympathy shown to Mrs Wodehouse and her family in their terrible suspense will be again tendered to them on the announcement of the death of this distinguished soldier. He was in command of the 1st Battalion from 30 December last. He was killed on 12 March, whilst leading an attack on a strong position north-east of Neuve Chapelle. The deceased officer, who was the son of Colonel Charles Wodehouse, CIE, Indian Army, and political agent at Kolhapur, joined the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment from the County Militia in 1892". Lieutenant Colonel Wodehouse had married, 18 April 1906, at St John's Church, Worcester, Amy Violet Isaec, daughter of J S Isaec, of Boughton Park, Worcester. He was very fond of cricket and a good shot. DSO, QSA (3) CC Trans OFS (Capt & Adj Worc Regt), KSA (2) (Capt, DSO, Worc Regt), 1914 Star and Bar (Maj, DSO Worc Regt), BWM, Victory Medal with MID (Lt Col). http://www.angloboerwar.com/DSO/w/wodehouse_ecf.htm http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/h_boer_war_wodehouse_diary
This is very similar but different !! CAPTAIN JOHN EDMUND VALENTINI ISAAC, D.S.O., RESERVE OF OFFICERS attd. 2nd BATTN. RIFLE BRIGADE (THE PRINCE CONSORT'S OWN, ) third son of John Swinton Isaac, Esq., D.L., of Boughton Park, Worcester, was born at Powyke Court, near Worcester on the 14th February, 1880. He was educated at Wixenford and at Harrow, and was gazetted to the Northumberland Fusiliers from the Militia in April, 1900, and, being posted to the 2nd Battalion, sailed in June to join it in South Africa. Thus he began his military career on active service in the Boer War, in the course of which he was severely wounded in December, 1900, at Nooitgedacht. He was present at operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony, and Cape Colony between May, 1900, and March, 1901. For his services he received the Queen's medal with four clasps. He was promoted Lieutenant in November, 1900, and Captain in April, 1905. On the disbandment of his battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers he was transferred, in June, 1908, to the Rifle Brigade. In 1911 Captain Isaac retired from the Army, and went to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he made many friends. On hearing rumours of war he returned to England in August, 1914, and in a fortnight joined the Special Reserve of Officers. Shortly afterwards he was appointed A.D.C. to Major-General Sir T. Capper, Commanding the VIIth Division, and proceeded to the front in October, 1914. He was wounded on the 24th October at the first Battle of Ypres. For his behaviour there he was awarded the D.S.O., receiving the decoration at the hands of the King on the 15th April, 1915. The following is the official record of the award: “Has shown conspicuous gallantry on all occasions. Has always obtained reliable and valuable information when required. On October 24th he guided a unit to a critical point with great skill, which resulted in checking the enemy. He was wounded in the engagement." He was also mentioned in Sir John French's Despatch of the 14th January, 1915. On recovering from his wound he returned to his duties on the Staff in December, 1914, rejoining his regiment on the 7th May, 1915. He was killed on the 9th May near Fromelles while leading his men. He fell just after they took the German trench, but it was not possible to recover his body. Captain Isaac, who was a member of the Bath Club, was a good cricketer, playing occasionally for his county, and belonging to the I Zingari, the Free Foresters, and the M.C.C. He was also a good rider, and won the Cairo Grand National in February, 1911.
Scroll to see the lovely stained glass windows for the Isaac boys and Lt Col Wodehouse ! http://www.wccc.co.uk/clubInfo/clubHistory.pdf
ISAAC A.W. Second Lieutenant, 5th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Born 4th October 1873 at Powick Court, Worcestershire, died 7th July 1916 at Contalmaison, France. Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 5A and 6C. First team member for Worcestershire County Cricket Club from 1899-1911. Also appears on Worcester Guildhall, Worcester St John in Bedwardine and Worcester Masonic Hall memorials and Worcester Cathedral cloister windows. The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War by Captain H. FitzM. Stacke of the Regiment, 1928.
