Ernest is listed as being killed in action on 26 Sep 1915 during the Battle of Loos. It appears that he was originally reported as being wounded & missing in action.
The 6th Battalion war diary entry for the 25th & 26th is more or less unreadable however there is a report attach to the diary which describes the events and it is transcribed below along with a newspaper report about Ernest from the Leamington Spa Courier.
Report on Operations
SUBJECT: Account of Operations 25th 26th Sept
6th Royal Scots Fusiliers
Reference B.N. 59/d/2/10/15
To:-
Headquarters
27th Inf. Bde
The battalion after being held in support all day on Saturday 25th Sept 1915 advanced at 5pm from amma front trench at point L in line of half companies with the 10th A & S Hlrs [Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders] immediately to our front. We advanced until arriving at Foss trench about 6pm which we occupied.
At 7pm two companies were forward to support the 11th and 12th Royal Scots in Pekin Trench on their left. Between 9 and 10 German bombers forced us to withdraw from Pekin Trench to Fosse Trench. Shortly afterwards the battalion withdrew from this trench and 3 companies returned to our old support line the remaining company taking up position in Hohenzollern Redoubt.
Early on the morning of the 26th the Middlesex relieved this company who rejoined the remainder of the Battalion. The battalion then reformed in the Quarry and remained there until the afternoon of the 26th when two coys were sent forward to Hohenzollern and at 5.30pm the remaining 2 Coys and machine gunners were also sent to Hohenzollern where the Battalion took up position and held until midnight when it was ordered forward to Fosse Trench reaching this position about 7.30am [27th] with the A & S Hlrs on our left but no touch could be obtained with our own troops on the right.
We remained in these trenches until the afternoon of the 27th inst.
In the Field 2/10/15. (sd) J.H. Dutton, Major, Comdg 6th Royal Scots Fusrs.
This is all that I can gather of these operations. Lt. Col Northey was in command on the 26th
Newspaper Report
Leamington Spa Courier – October 29, 1915
LOCAL WAR ITEMS
Mr and Mrs T.B. Sayer of 3 Albert Street, Milverton have received official intimation this week that their son Pte. Ernest James Sayer was wounded in action between the 26th and 29th ult – a month ago. They are anxiously awaiting further news of their son. Private Sayer is 23 years of age.
