Soldier Record
Ernest Saye
Contributed by: Heather Johnson, on 2008-11-04
| Rank | |
|---|---|
| First Name | Ernest |
| Surname | Saye |
| Year of Birth | 1888 |
| Year of Death | 1916 |
| Regiment | Coldstream Guards |
| Place of Wartime Residence | Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex |
Ernest's Story
On 23rd September 1916, a German Zeppelin crashed in a field at Little Wigborough, Essex. Many local people went to gaze at the sight and, living close by, my Grandmother Sarah Saye was one of them. Whilst there, she overheard Military men (down from London) talking about another 'Big Push' on the Somme. They spoke of the Coldstream Guards being nearly wiped out. On hearing this, my Grandmother spoke up and said "I hope you are wrong because I have a son in the Coldstream Guards"!
It was not long after that my Grandparents received the terrible news that one of their sons (they had five serving in the Army) Ernest ('Dod') had been killed on 15th September. This was, indeed, the day of this 'Big Push' on the Somme - the day that tanks went into battle for the very first time in the world! Ernest has no known grave and is one of the 73,000 odd souls who is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial To The Missing.
No additional memories have been submitted