Military Cross awarded to Lieutenant Michael Isaacs RNVR (1882-1960) who served with the Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Division near Arras in France.

The Military Cross is a silver cross with a crown pointing outwards on each arm. In the centre is the Royal Cypher. The reverse is inscribed, ‘Sub.Lieut.Michael Isaacs R.N.V.R. Awarded June 5 1917’. The cross is suspended by a ring and bar from a white ribbon with a purple stripe. It is mounted on a bar with three others: British War medal 1914-18 (MED2607), Victory Medal 1914-18 (MED2608) and Order of Agricultural Merit, Chevalier (MED2609).

The medal was instituted in December 1914 as a reward for gallantry for officers of the rank of Captain and below and for warrant officers.

Michael Isaacs was born in Bow, London as Meyer Isaac Rogel, the son of Lewis Isaac Rogel. By 1911 the family had moved to Brixton and had changed their name. Lewis was working as a traveller in tea for J. Lyons & Co. Michael was travelled to Australia and the United States at this time as a company director. In August 1915 he joined the RNVR as a temporary Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Division and served with the Drake Battalion, near Arras, France. On 5 June 1917 he was a awarded the Military Cross. In 1917 he was appointed Temporary Acting Lieutenant commanding 253rd Divisional Employment Company. He was demobilized on 21 August 1919. On 9 March 1922 he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London - Isaacs officially changed his name from Rogel by deed poll on 6 March that year. He married Eileen Violet Scott in 1933 at St George, Hanover Square. By 1939 he had changed his name to Ingrams and died under that name in Eastbourne.