Nine months into the Great War, Worcestershire CCC lost another cricketer in action on this day in 1915.
Johnnie Isaac, 35, was killed at Fromelles Ridge in North East France.
He was the brother of famous local cricketer, Arthur Isaac, and brother-in-law of Lt Col. ECF Wodehouse, DSO, killed in action only eight weeks earlier.
Johnnie, born on February 14, 1880, at Powick Court, was the third son of John Swinton Isaac DL, banker, and Amy Alice Isaac, of Boughton Park, Worcester.
Like his father and brothers, he was educated at Harrow School. His house was The Knoll 1893-98. Despite cricket being a family pastime, neither Johnnie nor older brother Arthur W Isaac played in the Harrow 1st XI.
Johnnie played four games for Worcestershire, making his debut in 1907 against Oxford University.
He also played for The Army and Orange Free Colony. A member of the MCC since 1903, he also played for his Regiment, Free Foresters and I Zingari.
A well known gentleman jockey, Johnnie won the Cairo Grand National in 1911 on a horse he trained and partly owned.
He was wounded on 23rd October 1914 serving with the Rifle Brigade at the First Battle of Ypres (returning to Worcester to spend a few days convalescence at home, from a rifle bullet in his left forearm).
He returned to the front in December, was mentioned in dispatches on 14th January 1915 and was awarded the DSO and Medaille Militaire.
He died on May 9 1915 at Rouge Bancs, Fromelles Ridge, Armentieres, France.
*Information supplied by Andrew Thomas.
