Isaac George Saddler
Stephen LearmonthIsaac George Saddler was born in 1893 in Corryong, Victoria, to Thomas Gibson Sadler and Maria, nee Ward.
On 2nd February 1916, he enlisted at Tallangatta, Victoria. At the time, he was a single, 23-year-old grocer from South Yarra, Victoria. He was allocated Regimental Number 1280 and placed in the D Company of the 37th Battalion. Isaac named his older sister, Lillian Hutton, as his next of kin. After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A34 Persic at Melbourne, Victoria, on 3rd June 1916.
The Persic disembarked at Plymouth, England, on 25th July 1916. After undergoing further training in England, Isaac proceeded overseas on 22nd November of that year. During February 1918, Isaac went on leave in the UK. Upon arriving back at his unit, he transferred to the 10th Field Ambulance with an abscess on his right foot. This turned septic, so he didn’t rejoin the 37th Battalion until the 19th April.
One month later, he was transferred to the 10th Aust Infantry Brigade HQ. He was granted ten days' leave to Paris from the 20th to the 30th of October. In late January, he enjoyed three weeks' leave in the UK.
On 18th July 1919, he returned to Australia aboard the SS Rio Pardo, with the rank of Private. He was discharged on 20th December 1919 and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service during the war.
Isaac married Elizabeth Ethel Hill in 1920. They would have one son, Frederick. Between 1920 and 1949, Elizabeth and Isaac would purchase the licences for a variety of hotels in the Melbourne area. Beginning with the Champion Hotel, Brunswick, Golden Fleece Hotel in Russell Street, Duke of Wellington Hotel in Flinders Street, Village Belle Hotel in St Kilda, and lastly, Centennial Hotel in Kensington. At some stage during the 1940s, the Saddler family moved back to the Upper Murray. For several years, he owned Cudgewa Station before selling it in September 1951 and returning to Melbourne. He passed away on the 4th September 1960 at St Kilda, and was buried in Melbourne General Cemetery, Victoria.
