Isaac was born in Stamford in 1895. In 1911 he lived at the Golden Fleece in the Sheepmarket. He had 2 brothers, Charles aged 20 and John Thomas aged 6 and 3 sisters Mary 14, Mabel 9, Catherine 4. He was apprenticed as a moulder with Charles Gray, an iron merchant. There were 40 boarders resident here.

He enlisted with the Territorials on the 14th April 1911 giving his age as 17. He spent the entire war in Egypt and Palestine serving with the Northants Royal Field Artillery to defend the Suez Canal. In 1915 he was promoted to Bombardier.

He was re engaged in 1916 as he had already served his first 4 years by then. After the war he lived in Havelock Street, Kettering and married Frances M Moore in 1920. In 1923 he was awarded the Territorial Efficiency medal.