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R.S.L. Funeral Rituals

Funeral Rituals for RSL members - The RSL Segment of the Funeral Service
The Rituals are secular and should be conducted by a lay person.

Introduction: 
Rituals are included for the following:

Ritual 1 - For members who have returned from Active Service;

Ritual 2 - For former members of the Armed Services who have not been on active service;

Ritual 3 - For Affiliate members; and

Ritual 4 - For members of the Women's Auxiliary

Full Ritual Booklet

* Alternative Ritual introduced in 2007.
Contemporary blend of Rituals 1 & 2.
The rituals are secular and should be conducted by a lay person.

Rituals may only be used with the prior consent of the relatives of the deceased member.

Purpose of the RSL Ritual
In celebrating and giving thanks for the life of the deceased, the funeral service assists the bereaved in coping with grief.  The RSL segment highlights the services of the deceased to his country both in conflict and in peace so that the bereaved will be proud of the veteran's contribution and the RSL's acknowledgement of it.
Responsibility for the conduct of the Ritual.

It is traditional practice for the member's Sub-Branch President to conduct the ritual but circumstances may cause the President to delegate this function to another RSL person or, if appropriate, Women's Auxiliary of Affiliate member.

If a Sub-Branch is unable to conduct the ceremony it MUST arrange for someone else to do it (some Sub-Branches have a Civil Celebrant in reserve).
The RSL has no obligation to do the Ritual for non-members.

Preparation

·         Arrange either for a Bugler or recording to sound the Last Post and Reveille.  Most Funeral Directors have such a recording.  If not, ANZAC House Trading has them available.

·         Ensure sufficient poppies or other flowers are available.  Some funeral parlours hold sticks.  Replenish suppliers of ritual poppies from Appeals Department at ANZAC House.

·         Research the deceased's service in the Armed Forces and the RSL for eulogy.  Sources are family, unit association (get address from ANZAC House).  History Sections of Armed Forces Records Offices - Army <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = SKYPE />  (03) 9282 4999  , Navy  (02) 6266 5968  , Air Force  (02) 6266 5850  .  For RSL record contact late member's Sub-Branch or membership Office at ANZAC House.

·         Contact the Minister or Celebrant to arrange the RSL Rituals in the format of the service.

·         Give the Funeral Director or Bugler a copy of the Ritual with cue words marked to ensure that the Last Post and Reveille are sounded at the correct place in the service.

·         Arrange for people to hand out poppies and for one member to move promptly to lay the first poppy after you place yours and say, "We place it here in abiding memory".

Conduct of the Ritual

·         Introduce yourself and express condolences to the family on behalf of the State President and the RSL.

·         Speak into the microphone and address the congregation except when saying the lines of "O Valiant Hearts", when it is preferable to address the casket.

·         When approaching the lectern to begin the ritual and when leaving it to resume your seat, halt at the foot of the casket and bow your head in salute.

Other Matters

·         On leaving the church or funeral parlour, RSL members leave the church and form a Guard of Honour between the door of the church and the hearse through which the casket will be borne during the final hymn.

·         On arrival at the cemetery again form a Guard of Honour or, if the distance is too great, walk on either side of the casket as it is carried to the gravesite.

·         Distribution of poppies is at the discretion of the Sub-Branch.  Some confine the issue to RSL members, some give to all who wish to pay a final tribute.

·         Medals are not normally worn except when the deceased is being accorded Military Honours when servicemen will wear medals and veterans should confirm this.  If the family asks that medals be worn, then Sub-Branches should accede to their wish.

·         If Masonic or legacy rituals are being conducted, ask that they precede the RSL Ritual to ensure that Last Post and Reveille are the finale.

RSL FUNERAL SERVICE - RITUAL 1

FOR RETURNED MEMBERS

This Ritual may only be used with the prior consent of the relatives of the

deceased member.

At the appropriate time in the service, as agreed with the Minister or Celebrant, the

RSL State President, Sub-Branch President, or a nominated representative says

(address may be altered to suit circumstances):

"We are assembled here today to pay our last tribute to

who served with us in war and has now gone to join the great

army of those who fell in battle in defence of their nation."

" (Name) came through the ordeal of war. How well he/she

served will be known to his/her Unit comrades some of whom

are gathered here today: how he/she served his/her fellow men

on his/her return is known to the members of the RSL, his/her

family and friends who mourn with me the passing of a loyal

friend."

(Describe his/her service in war or conflict and as a member of

the RSL)

"Remembering his/her many qualities and the happy times we

spent together - we join in a silent pledge - to sink all differences,

one with the other - and extend the hand of comradeship to all in

need as …(Name)… would have us do."

"As brother follows brother into the great beyond - we who are

left close our ranks to carry on the RSL tradition of unselfish

service - to the disabled, to the bereaved and to maintain the

highest ideals of citizenship."

With Poppy in hand the speaker says;

"O'Valiant Hearts, who to your glory came"

Through dust of conflict and through battle flame

Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved,

Your memory hallowed in the land you loved.

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them."

All present repeat:

"We will remember them."

Followed by: (Speaker holds up poppy):

"The service of the day is over, and the hour has come for rest.

This blood red poppy - the traditional emblem of sacrifice the

symbol of a life given for one's country - links us with ….(Name)..

it is a token of our affectionate and proud remembrance.

We place it here in abiding memory."

10

The speaker drops or places his poppy on the casket and motions

ex-service personnel to file past and follow suit.

The speaker says:

"Please stand and join with me, reverently, in a silent tribute to

…(Name)…"

All present stand at attention with heads bowed. The Last Post is then

played The silence is broken by the speaker saying "Lest We Forget".

(repeated by all present) and this is followed by Reveille.

This completes service

RSL FUNERAL SERVICE - RITUAL 2

FOR NON-RETURNED MEMBERS

This Ritual may only be used with the prior consent of the relatives of the

deceased member.

At the appropriate time in the service, as agreed with the Minister or

Celebrant, the RSL State President, Sub-Branch President, or a nominated

representative says (address may be altered to suit circumstances):

"We are assembled here today to pay our last tribute to

…(Name)… who served with us in the defence of the Nation.

How well he/she served will be known to his/her former

comrades some of whom are gathered here today; while many

will have shared his/her service and community

responsibilities through our association in the RSL."

(Personal Details here)

Remembering his/her many qualities and the happy times we

spent together - we join in a silent pledge - to sink all

differences, one with the other - and extend the hand of

comradeship to all in need as …(Name)…would have us do,

and to carry on the RSL tradition of unselfish service - to the

disabled to the bereaved and maintain the highest ideals of

citizenship.

With Poppy in hand the speaker says;

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will

remember them."

All present repeat:

"We will remember them."

Speaker says:

"As a token of our affectionate and proud remembrance, I

place here a red poppy - the symbol of sacrifice - and I invite

all ex-service persons to join me in so doing."

The speaker drops or places his poppy on the casket and motions exservice

persons to file past and follow suit.

The speaker says:

"Please stand and join with me, reverently, in a silent tribute to

…(Name)…"

Members stand at attention with heads bowed. The Last Post is then

played and finally the silence is broken by the speaker saying "Lest We

Forget" (Repeated by all present) which is followed by Reveille.

This completes the service.

A flower may be used in the service. (Note: Red Poppies are NOT to

says; (address may be altered to suit if desired).

"We are assembled here today to honour …(Name)…a former

Affiliate member of our Sub-Branch who joined our ranks to

unselfishly give of his/her service in the areas of RSL service to

the Sub-Branch. He/she joined our ranks through his/her

relationship to his/her (Name Service Relative) who served in

the Defence Forces, and in so doing committed him/herself to the

RSL tradition of unselfish service to the disabled and to the

bereaved and maintain the highest ideals of citizenship.

As a token of our affectionate remembrance I place here a flower

and invite all present to join me in so doing.

Would you please stand and join with me, reverently, in silent

tribute to …(Name)…

"Lest We Forget"

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Last modified: September 01, 2010