A veteran’s funeral can include meaningful military traditions that pay tribute to their service, such as draping the coffin with the Australian flag, the playing of the Last Post and a period of silence, the Ode of Remembrance, and an RSL commemorative service. The Returned and Services League (RSL) can take part, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs may provide funeral assistance for eligible veterans.
Farewelling someone who served their country is a profound honour, and military traditions offer a powerful way to recognise their service and sacrifice. Whether your loved one served in war or peacetime, these customs bring dignity, pride and comfort to a funeral. This guide explains the traditions that can form part of a veteran’s funeral, how the RSL can be involved, and the support that may be available. It is general information, and our team at Keith Logue & Sons is honoured to help veteran families across Coffs Harbour and the Mid North Coast.
Military Funeral Traditions That Honour Service
Several traditions can be woven into a veteran’s funeral, according to your family’s wishes:
- The Australian flag. The coffin may be draped with the national flag, often with the veteran’s medals and service cap placed on top.
- The Last Post and Rouse. The Last Post is played to mark the farewell, followed by a period of silence and then the Rouse.
- The Ode of Remembrance. The familiar words, “They shall grow not old…”, are recited in tribute.
- An RSL commemorative service. Members of the local RSL sub-branch may conduct a poppy service, placing poppies on the coffin as a mark of respect.
- A catafalque party or guard. In some services, uniformed personnel stand in vigil as a sign of honour.
These can be included in a religious or non-religious service, and a eulogy often reflects the veteran’s service and life.
How the RSL Can Be Involved
The Returned and Services League is often glad to take part in a veteran’s funeral. The local sub-branch can provide a commemorative poppy service, members to attend in support, and guidance on military customs. It is best to contact the veteran’s sub-branch early so arrangements can be coordinated with the funeral, and you can find your nearest sub-branch through RSL NSW. Your funeral director can help liaise with the RSL on your behalf.
Funeral Assistance for Veterans
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) may provide financial assistance toward the funeral of an eligible veteran, often a one-off funeral benefit where the death is service-related or the veteran was receiving certain pensions. The Office of Australian War Graves may also provide an official commemoration, such as a plaque, for eligible veterans. Eligibility rules apply, so it is worth checking with DVA. This support can ease the cost of the funeral for families.
A Lasting Tribute
Beyond the service itself, families often choose a lasting memorial that reflects their loved one’s service, such as a headstone or plaque bearing their service details, regiment or a fitting inscription. For eligible veterans, the Office of Australian War Graves provides official commemoration, ensuring their service is never forgotten.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is entitled to a military funeral in Australia?
Military honours and RSL involvement are generally available to those who served in the Australian Defence Force. The extent of honours can vary, and your funeral director or the local RSL sub-branch can advise based on your loved one’s service.
Does the RSL pay for a veteran’s funeral?
The RSL does not usually fund funerals, but it provides commemorative services and support. Financial assistance may be available through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for eligible veterans.
Can a veteran have the flag and Last Post at a private funeral?
Yes. These traditions can be part of any funeral, religious or non-religious, public or private, according to your family’s wishes.
How do we arrange RSL involvement?
Contact the veteran’s local RSL sub-branch as early as possible, or ask your funeral director to help coordinate. This ensures the commemorative service fits smoothly into the funeral.
Is a veteran buried in a special part of the cemetery?
Not unless your family wishes it. A veteran can be buried or cremated wherever feels right, whether in a general or lawn cemetery or a crematorium, just as anyone else would be, and there is no requirement to use a separate section. For eligible veterans, the Office of Australian War Graves can place an official commemoration at the chosen resting place, or a plaque in one of its Gardens of Remembrance, which are found in each capital city and a few regional centres. Your funeral director can talk you through the options.
What is the norm for a veteran’s headstone, and can it carry a service emblem?
Most families choose to include the veteran’s service details, such as their name, rank, service number, unit and a fitting inscription, and yes, a service emblem or badge can be added. Every Australian veteran is entitled to have the relevant service emblem placed on a privately arranged memorial, with permission from the Office of Australian War Graves. For eligible veterans, an official commemoration plaque already includes the service badge and is maintained for all time at no cost to the family.
Is there anything a family is required to do for a veteran’s funeral?
No. Military traditions, RSL involvement and official commemorations are all optional and entirely up to your family. There is nothing you must include, and these customs are simply there to help you honour your loved one’s service in whatever way feels right.
Honouring Their Service, With Pride and Care
A veteran’s farewell is a chance to honour a life of service with the dignity it deserves. As a fourth-generation, family-owned funeral home, Keith Logue & Sons is proud to support veteran families across Coffs Harbour and the Mid North Coast, coordinating military traditions with care. If you would like to talk through honouring your loved one, our caring team is here. You are welcome to call us any time on (02) 6652 1999 or send an online enquiry whenever you are ready.
This article was written by the team at Keith Logue & Sons, a fourth-generation, family-owned funeral home that has cared for families across Coffs Harbour and the Mid North Coast for over five decades.
[REFERENCES]
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Bereavement payments and funeral benefits, https://www.dva.gov.au/families-and-dependants/financial-programs-and-services/bereavement-payments/bereavement-payments-funeral-benefits-and-other-assistance-under-the-vea
- RSL Australia, https://www.rslaustralia.org/
- RSL NSW, https://www.rslnsw.org.au/
- Office of Australian War Graves, https://www.dva.gov.au/recognition-and-commemoration/office-of-australian-war-graves/about-the-office-of-australian-war-graves
