Funerals
Ceremony and Ritual for Funeral of RSL Members
You can download and print this document which provides guidance and the essential elements to ensure the protocol and dignity of the Tribute is maintained.
Urgent Eulogies
If you have an urgent eulogy request, please complete the Personal Information Request Form available from the Department of Defence’s Information Access Unit (IAU). When completing the form, you will need to provide as much accurate information as possible (i.e. Full name during service, date of birth, service area, service number or PMKeyS, enlistment and discharge dates) as well as the date of the upcoming funeral. The request will need to come from your RSL email address (ExampleSB@rslnsw.org.au). For more details on eulogies, please visit the Department of Defence website.
Request for Committal of Ashes to Sea, Land or Air
If you would like to request the committal of ashes, please contact the Defence Family Helpline on 1800 624 608 or email DefenceFamilyHelpline@defence.gov.au. Defence will guide you through the process and provide you with the relevant forms to make your request.
Process: Eulogy Requests for New Zealand Veterans
- Email from: an RSL-branded email address
- Email to: NZDF.PAM@nzdf.mil.nz
- Subject: URGENT – funeral – name of veteran
- Body of email: full name of veteran, DOB, summary of service details, date and time of funeral
- Mandatory attachment: evidence of request from funeral director (request form or copy of email)
Ceremony and Ritual for Funeral of RSL Members
You can download and print this document which provides guidance and the essential elements to ensure the protocol and dignity of the Tribute is maintained.
Order of Commemoration 9.00pm Ceremony
President: “Gentleman: 9 o’clock.”
1. Lights switched off and Cross or Emblem illuminated.
2. Short Silence.
3. Recitation of Binyon’s lines:
“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.”
(By President – Repeated by all present)
4. “LEST WE FORGET”
(By President – Repeated by all present)
5. Cross or emblem switched off and lights on.