NSW. c.1901. Group portrait of the four Tame brothers who joined together and were sent to South ...

NSW. c.1901. Group portrait of the four Tame brothers who joined together and were sent to South Africa as a 'spare' reinforcement draft for the 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles regiment. They were part of a group of 84 men under temporary command of Captain J.W. Niesigh, who with other reinforcements left Sydney on the SS Antillian on 5 April 1901. They disembarked in South Africa on 12 May 1901. The men were absorbed into the 3rd Imperial Bushmen's regiment after it was formed at Klerksdorp on 4 May 1901. The regiment saw service in the Western Transvaal until October 1901, when it was transferred to the Eastern Transvaal. John and Emily Tame, from Joadja, near Mittagong NSW, had twelve children. From the six boys of military age, four enlisted for service in the Boer War. Of the four brothers who served in South Africa three died of enteric fever within five months. It is believed they are from left to right: Sergeant Albert E. Tame; Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant Henry Tame, who died at Middelberg on 23 March 1902; Private Walter Tame, who died at Standerton on 20 October 1901; Farrier Sergeant Herbert Bernden Tame, who died at Standerton on 7 February 1902. (Donor N. Shepperd and M. Kelly)