War veteran funeral services: what do they involve?

Military funerals are a great way to pay our respects and honour the brave men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. They are the perfect opportunity for friends, family and comrades to pay tribute to the veteran’s sacrifices and contributions.

However, if this is your first time attending or arranging such a service then you may have a few questions about what a military funeral entails or what your loved one is entitled to. In this blog, we are here to help you answer those questions and give you peace of mind that everything will be just as they would have wanted it, and the day goes as smoothly as possible.

What is a military funeral?

A military funeral is a funeral or memorial service for those who have served in the British armed forces, whether this be in the Royal Navy, Army, Marines or Air Force. They’re most common for those who have died in active service, however, veterans who have retired or weren’t active when they passed are also entitled to a military funeral and special procedures, regardless of how long they served.

How to arrange a military funeral?

As you would with any passing, the first task is to declare the death, unless they have died in service – in this case, the military unit is required to pass details of the casualty to the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC). The JCCC will then initiate the appropriate follow-up actions, such as repatriation of the deceased to the UK if the death occurred overseas, as well as the official registration of the death.

Once this first step has been completed, you can then contact your funeral director or get help from a veterans service organisation to arrange for a military honours funeral. The funeral director will work closely with a Visiting Officer (VO) to ensure the right protocols for a military funeral are met, so you can give your loved one a respectful send-off with all the right traditions, while still ensuring the wishes of the family.

If you’ve recently lost a loved one and are taking the steps to arranging a veteran’s or active service military funeral service for them, our own funeral directors here at Heart of England can help share your burden. To reach out you can come talk to us by visiting us in person at one of our branches or you can contact us via our 24/7 telephone line.

What happens at a military funeral?

Like any other funeral, a military funeral will be arranged in line with the deceased’s family’s wishes, and the Ministry of Defence will offer as much or as little assistance as the family chooses.

They will work with the family to offer maximum flexibility over style and arrangements. However, military funerals are steeped in symbolism and tradition, and they will still work to ensure that the proper traditions of a military funeral are met. A few examples of military funeral traditions usually include:

• A military pallbearer party – This consists of serving military members carrying the coffin into the venue.
• Three-volley salute – It consists of a rifle party firing blank cartridges into the air three times to symbolise the life, death and spirit of the departed.
• A national or regimental flag draped on their casket – This is a symbolic coffin cover to honour and acknowledge the efforts of the deceased and their contribution to the military and their country.
• The procession – This will differ from a regular funeral as a military funeral procession includes a charger (a riderless horse), a bearer party commander, eight casket bearers, an insignia bearer if there are insignia to be borne, two headdress bearers, honorary pallbearers, and a gun carriage or hearse.
• The playing of the last post – The Last Post is usually played on a bugle but can also be played on a trumpet and is the call at military funerals symbolising the duty of the dead is over and they can rest in peace.

Due to the complexity of some of the elements of a military funeral, it’s also traditional to hold a full dress rehearsal the day before the funeral. The armed forces will dress the coffin at the place of rest as well as arrange for a flag from the officers unit to be draped over the coffin – everyone who has served in the arms forces is entitled to this. They may also provide the deceased’s cap, medals, belt and a wreath of poppies to be placed on the coffin. These items are mostly for decoration and at the end of the funeral they will be returned to a senior office.

Getting help with military funeral expenses

Ex-military personnel will typically have to pay for their own funeral in the same way any other UK civilian would. However, depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to help with funding the funeral from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA).

These circumstances can include:

• If the death was during military service.
• An Unemployment supplement was being paid at the time of the death and the SPVA had assessed a war disability pension at 80% or more.
• They died while receiving treatment in a hospital for a disability for which they received a war disablement pension.

Anyone who has died in military service is entitled to a funeral at public expense, or more known as a service funeral, plus an additional grant. However, if you decide you would prefer a private funeral for your loved one then the Ministry of Defense will provide a larger grant towards the cost of those who have died in service.

Where are military funerals held?

As with everything else, the deceased’s family will be able to decide where the funeral is held. A military funeral can be held at various places around the UK, and many military funerals are usually held at designated military cemeteries or burial grounds. However, the military will also help to organise a funeral at your local cemetery or crematorium as they strive to accommodate the deceased’s family’s wishes.

Can you have religious or cultural aspects in a military funeral?

Yes, UK Military funerals are very respectful of any religions and cultures the deceased and their family follow and want to incorporate into the funeral. Every effort to accommodate these personal elements is made, and your funeral director will work with you to ensure your specific needs and rituals are met during the funeral. The best time to make these requests is during your first meeting with your director, who’ll be able to provide further advice and recommendations on how to meet them.

Get help arranging a military funeral with Heart of England

We all want to pay our respects and honour our loved ones at their funeral, and a military funeral is the best way to do this for those who have served in the armed forces. However, arranging a funeral, no matter what kind, can feel like a daunting task.

Here at Heart of England, we have a wide range of funeral options so we can help you create the perfect send-off for your loved one. If you want to know more about arranging a funeral then you can book an appointment with our professional funeral directors for more advice and guidance.