WW1 soldier laid to rest after nearly 108 years

Pte John Tame was laid to rest at the New Irish Farm cemetery on Thursday

A World War One soldier has been buried with full military honours nearly 108 years after his death.

Pte John Tame, who was from Windsor and served in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, was killed in Belgium in August 1917.

His remains were found during road works at Zonnebeke, near Ypres, in May 2018, with a cap badge and a Royal Berkshire Regiment shoulder title found nearby.

A DNA match to a living relative confirmed his identity and he was laid to rest at the New Irish Farm cemetery, near Ypres, on Thursday.

Pte Tame's older brothers L/Cpl Alfred Tame and Cpl William George Tame, who served in the same regiment, were both killed during the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9 May 1915.

Their bodies have never been found and they are commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, about 11 miles (18km) from where their brother is now buried.

Pte Tame's brothers are remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial, near Ypres

On Friday, on the 110th anniversary of their deaths, their family and a party from 2nd Battalion the Rifles visited the memorial to remember the missing brothers.

Keith Brooks, Pte Tame's great nephew, helped the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) to identify him by giving a DNA sample.

"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," Mr Brooks said.

"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 MOD do with all the research and investigations, giving missing people who have served their country the funeral they all greatly deserve."

Rosie Barron, who works for the JCCC, 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."