Mr Knight was a farm labourer, and in 1901 he and his wife, Ann, lived with seven of their eight children in the cottage that forms part of the boundary of St Cuthbert’s Church graveyard in Beckside. Also living with them for a time was William’s father, Thomas, a retired farm labourer. In 1911 Isaac, aged 28 and still single, had left home and was boarding with a fellow iron ore miner, John Johnson and his wife Susannah, at 6 Bell Hill, Marton, near Ulverston. Mr Knight was also living-in in 1911, at Ringhouse Farm in Woodland, where he worked for the Cowards.

According to Andy Moss, Gunner Isaac Knight had been a Special Reservist, No. 8394, serving in India as a regular soldier with the 15th Hussars for seven years before the war, and two years in Ireland. Once that service was over, Isaac Knight emigrated to New Zealand, while his younger brother, William, who was to survive the war, chose Australia. Both came back to Europe with the Anzac Expeditionary Force. Once back in England, Isaac enlisted, under the Derby Scheme, in the local regiment, The Kings Own Royal Lancasters. After training from January to November 1916 Gunner Isaac Knight went to France and Flanders, now with the Royal Garrison Artillery.