For those who have previously served, Daniel Ross Funerals in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, is proud to offer a military funeral service that reflects the right amount of military input that the family would like, ranging from simply draping the coffin with a suitable flag , right through to a uniformed chaplain, relevant flag on the altar, regimental prayers, Last Post and the deceased’s medals displayed on the coffin. Military funeral music can also be played, eg a Regimental March etc. Ex-members of the Royal Navy often have a version of “For those in peril on the sea” sung as a hymn, adapted for use at funerals by a local Navy Training Corps Chaplain who works closely with us in Sutton Coldfield.
At a Military Funeral, for members of the Royal Navy – the White Ensign is used,
At a Military Funeral, for the army the Union Flag is generally used,
At a Military Funeral, for the Royal Air Force the RAF standard,
For folk who have served in the Merchant Navy then the Red Ensign is used.
The British Legion is normally available to send volunteer members as a Guard of Honour, along with a standard bearer who will normally “dip” for Last Post. The Commemoration (We shall grow not old…”) can also be recited by one of their members or the Chaplain. For those not in the British Legion a nominal donation should be made to the Branch from which the members attending are associated. These are things we can easily arrange through our local contacts with the various ex-servicemen’s association, eg The British Legion, Normandy Veterans Association, National Ex Services Association, Royal Naval Association and the Royal Air Force Association.
Generally these forms of services apply to ex-serviceman from the Second World War, although not exclusively, and it is recognised that due to the experiences they had during those dark times there are some who do not want any military style input. But for the greater majority their families are keen to honour the memory of what their loved one did for King and Country and therefore include a degree of military input.
Orders of Service can also have a military feel about them with Regimental or Service badges and flags/colours/ensigns used. Daniel Ross Funerals in Sutton Coldfield has previously created very unique and personal Orders of Service for a military funeral in Sutton Coldfield.
Not all family want a “religious style” service and so we also offer a non-religious form of service that again can contain any amount of military style input that the family request.
Although the funeral service is a farewell to the deceased, it is also, importantly, for the families as well and having a military style feel to it, where appropriate, so often gives great satisfaction to families and friends as the memory of their loved one is honoured in this way.
At Daniel Ross Funerals, we would be honoured to serve and your family and to deliver a personal military funeral in Sutton Coldfield.