Sadlers Stories
Sergeant Thomas Edwin Sadler SBStJ Berkshire Regiment, Royal Engineers, St. John
Serving Brother of the Order of St. John. India General Service Medal 'Waziristan 1921-24'. 1939-45 Star. France & Germany Star. Defence Medal.
War Medal 1939-45. Efficiency Medal 'Militia'. Service Medal of the Order of St John.
The Man Thomas Edwin Sadler was born on 21st December 1902, in Wokingham, Berkshire, son of Alfred and Ann nee Anderson and was the youngest of six children, Alfred G born 1890, John William 1893, James Robert, 1895, Charles E 1899 and Margaret A 1900. Sadly Alfred and Charles both died whilst in their childhood and by 1911 the family were living at 1 Frederick Place, Wokingham. Thomas enlisted into the Royal Berkshire Regiment towards the end of World War 1 as a Private with service number 55269 and later 5329792; he saw active service in Waziristan and was awarded the India General Service Medal with clasp ‘Waziristan 1921-24’. He left the Army in about 1928, starting work with the Southern Railway Company and during the first quarter of 1929 married Elsie May Stroud in Reading, they lived at 61 Havelock Road, Wokingham. Thomas also joined the St John ambulance Brigade in about 1932 and in 1936 awarded the Southern Railway bronze medal for passing the first aid examination for seven years in succession. Thomas joined the Royal Engineers Militia during the late 1930s, possibly the Railway Operating Division and retaining the same service number. He was mobilised at the start of world War II. He was awarded the Southern Railway silver medal for 14 years first aid exam success in 1943 and became 29979 District Superintendent for No 2 district St John and awarded his St. John Service Medal in 1944. Thomas was promoted to Sergeant in the RE and saw service in North West Europe for which he was awarded the 1939-45, France & Germany Stars, Defence and War Medals 1939-45. He also received the Efficiency Medal ‘Militia’ in Army Order 20 of 1946. By 1964 Thomas and Elsie were living at 68 Ashridge Road and Thomas retained a link with St John as in the London Gazette of 14th September 1972, he was appointed as a Serving Brother of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem and died three years later on 9th October 1975 aged 73.
Area Officer Elsie May Sadler Berkshire St. John Ambulance
Elsie May Sadler's
Service Medal of the Order of St. John
The Wife Elsie May Stroud was born on 17th March 1902 daughter of Albert, a Bricklayers Labourer and Eliza. She had one brother Albert Edward and by 1911 the family were living at 2 Montana Terrace, Boundary Road, Newbury in Berkshire. Elsie married Thomas Edwin Sadler during the first quarter of 1929 in Reading and she was a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in Berkshire, with her husband, her number being 34862. In 1946 she was awarded her Service Medal. Elsie outlived Thomas by 14 years and died during the fourth quarter of 1989 aged 87 in Reading.
These two sets of medals to the Sadlers are ones I have only been able to find a minimal amount of detail on. They are in effect 'work in progress' as one day something additional may well be uncovered. Please feel free to contact me should you know of, or have any information on these people.
The Story The medals awarded to Thomas Edwin Sadler and his wife Elsie May were acquired on e-bay during February 2009. They came with no research, but were of interest due to the double long service element, Efficiency and St. John Service Medal. It was also nice to have a second named medal that at the time was assumed to be the wife of T E Sadler. Initially little detail was found, and it was not until early 2013 that a thorough check on ancestry.com was undertaken revealing a lot of extra detail, including Thomas’ first name, and that of his wife Elsie. Once these had been discovered it was possible to begin the quite arduous task of cross referencing the information in order to ensure they were correct. This further checking revealed much further detail. Middle names, marriage dates, a brief biography of Elsie and the fact that Thomas had been invested as a Serving Brother of the Order of St. John, although this decoration was missing from the group, possibly as it was only awarded three years before his death? Although there is potential for further research it is satisfying that for the time being at least some detail has been gathered to help perpetuate their memories.
These two sets of medals to the Sadlers are ones I have only been able to find a minimal amount of detail on. They are in effect 'work in progress' as one day something additional may well be uncovered. Please feel free to contact me should you know of, or have any information on these people.
The Story The medals awarded to Thomas Edwin Sadler and his wife Elsie May were acquired on e-bay during February 2009. They came with no research, but were of interest due to the double long service element, Efficiency and St. John Service Medal. It was also nice to have a second named medal that at the time was assumed to be the wife of T E Sadler. Initially little detail was found, and it was not until early 2013 that a thorough check on ancestry.com was undertaken revealing a lot of extra detail, including Thomas’ first name, and that of his wife Elsie. Once these had been discovered it was possible to begin the quite arduous task of cross referencing the information in order to ensure they were correct. This further checking revealed much further detail. Middle names, marriage dates, a brief biography of Elsie and the fact that Thomas had been invested as a Serving Brother of the Order of St. John, although this decoration was missing from the group, possibly as it was only awarded three years before his death? Although there is potential for further research it is satisfying that for the time being at least some detail has been gathered to help perpetuate their memories.
The bronze medal was awarded by Southern Railway for passing the first aid examination for seven years in succession. A silver medal was awarded for 14 years, and a gold for 21 years. Members of the railway divisions usually came under the St. John Ambulance Association and were not eligible for the Service Medal of the Order, as were members of the Brigade. Many of the railway companies, therefore instituted their own series of medals. Those for the southern Railway are probably most common, but others exist for the pre war companies such as the London Chatham and Dover Railway, and the London and North Eastern, Great Western and Midland Railways and many other companies also issued medals for proficiency in first aid.
Medal Details:
- Serving Brother of the Order of St John: Unnamed as issued.
- India General Service Medal: 5329792 PTE. T.E.SADLER. R.BERKS.R.
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as issued.
- France & Germany Star: Unnamed as issued.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as issued
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as issued.
- Efficiency Medal: 5329792.SJT.T.E.SADLER. R.E.
- St John Service Medal: 429979.D/SUPT. T.E.SADLER. No2 DIS.S.J.A.B. 1944
- St John Service Medal: 34862 A/OFF. E.SADLER. BERKS SJAB 1946
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This page last updated 16 Oct 20