First World War Windsor soldier buried with full military honours

The coffin of Private Tame is carried into New Irish Farm Cemetery by serving soldiers of 2nd Battalion The Rifles (Crown Copyright).

The remains of Private (Pte) John Tame of 2nd Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment were laid to rest on 8 May 2025 in Belgium nearly 108 years after his death.

The burial service for Pte Tame, organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), took place at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s New Irish Farm Cemetery.

The service was supported by serving soldiers from 2nd Battalion The Rifles and was attended by Keith Brooks, the great nephew of Pte Tame who aided JCCC by providing the DNA sample used to identify him.

Keith Brooks said:
“John and his brothers Alfred and William have been remembered by the family, from just photographs and vague memories from those who have now long passed. Now. after finding John's remains, he is more than just a distant photograph. This has made him more real along with his story for future generations. This has all been achieved because of the excellent work the military do with all the research and investigations. Giving missing people who have served their country, the funeral they all greatly deserve.”

Pte Tame was identified after his remains were found during road works at Zonnebeke near Ypres in May 2018. Nearby artefacts included a cap badge and shoulder title of The Royal Berkshire Regiment. The body also appeared to have been previously wounded around his left shoulder, which led to DNA matching confirming his identification.

Major Andrew Kuss presents the Union Flag which had covered the coffin to Keith Brooks (Crown Copyright).

JCCC Caseworker, Rosie Barron said:
“It has been an honour to work with The Rifles to give Pte Tame the full military funeral that he deserves and to have conducted the research which led to his identification. It has also been a privilege to meet Keith and to have shared this experience with him and his family."

The service was conducted by the Reverend Stephen Cassells CF, Chaplain to 2nd Battalion The Rifles.

Reverend Cassells said:
“I count it a privilege to be involved in the proper burial of Pte Tame. It is right that his remains should be laid to rest with dignity and in a place where his service will be properly honoured. I pray that his family will find peace in knowing that their relative has been found and buried properly and that those connected with his army regiment would draw renewed commitment through his service for King and country.”

Commemorations Casework Manager at the CWGC, David Royle, said:
“It is an honour to have been involved in the research that led to the formal identification of Private Tame and to have assisted his family with their choices for his Commission headstone. He is now at rest alongside his comrades in New Irish Farm Cemetery, where we will care for his grave in perpetuity”.

John’s brothers Lance Corporal Alfred Tame and Corporal William George Tame were both killed on 9 May 1915 during the Battle of Aubers Ridge. They are still missing and are commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

On 9 May 2025, the 110th anniversary of their deaths, the family of Pte Tame and a party from 2nd Battalion The Rifles, visited the Ploegsteert Memorial to remember his missing brothers Alfred and William George .

Private John Tame

Private John Tame (courtesy of the Tame family). Soldiers of 2nd Battalion The Rifles visited the Ploegsteert Memorial with Keith Brooks to remember Private Tame's brothers (Crown Copyright).

John Tame was born in Windsor, Berkshire, in early 1895. He was the third eldest of 7 children born to Edward Tame and his wife Alice. Edward died just months after the birth of their youngest child in 1906.

John’s elder brothers, Alfred and William George Tame enlisted into the Army and served with 2nd Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment which was stationed in India at the outbreak of the First World War. The battalion arrived on the Western Front on 5 November 1914. Lance Corporal Alfred Tame and Corporal William George Tame were killed on 9 May 1915 during the Battle of Aubers Ridge. Both brothers are still missing and are commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

Pte John Tame appears to have enlisted following the start of hostilities and joined 6th (Service) Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment. The battalion arrived on the Western Front on 25 July 1915 and was sent to the Somme region in France. Pte Tame was wounded during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. It was most likely following this that he transferred to 2nd Battalion.

On the night of 15 to 16 August 1917 2nd Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment moved forward into assembly positions on Westhoek Ridge near Ypres in Belgium. On 16 August they attacked as part of the wider Battle of Langemarck. They paused on a line was formed northwest of Polygon Wood. At 10.30am the Germans counterattacked and by the end of the fighting that day they had been pushed back to the Westhoek Ridge. It was during the fighting that day that Pte Tame went missing. He was 22 years old and as he was listed missing, was commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. 

There are approximately half-a-million Commonwealth casualties of World War One still missing – some resting in un-named graves and some yet to be discovered. Every year, through archaeological and agricultural work, the remains of those lost over 100 years ago are recovered.

Painstaking research then takes place through the JCCC, CWGC, associated organisations and researchers trying to identify these men to ensure they have a full, dignified military funeral whether or not they are identified.