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Bearing in mind this is a site about music used by the Royal Navy. - I am on occasion asked to advise on the appropriate music, that can be used to acompany a shipmate across the bar.

As such the following offers some informal suggestions, for there is never a wrong way to do these things. Yet sometimes, you need to know, that you have done the best you can.. In that context, I hope the might find the following useful.

Suggestions on how this page might be improved - gratefuly accepted.

Royal Navy & Royal Marine Funerals - Follow Link to Merchant Navy Funerals
There is little recorded information to be obtained on the subject of funerals, within the service. But as always the padre is the person to talk to.

But in general - It is usual to follow the format of the standard church service, which according to circumstance might often be abbreviated to incorporate the following -

Aboard ship, burials at sea would be conducted according to guidance in the drill book, with the ships company in No1 uniform (or if at the threat from an enemy possibly in working dress), assembled on the foredeck etc. to witness the committal. The padre or senior officer reads the appropriate words, leads the prayers and hymn (usually the Naval Hymn). At the point of committal a ships bugler would play the Last Post after which the deceased would be tipped over the side. (Alternatively a group of Boatswains mates would pipe as the deceased again was tipped into the deep).

Ashore - Church If a cerimonial party or military band is present. As the mourners and band approach the church, marching in file the band would play -

Flowers of the Forest

Alternatively, if the naval mourners have assembled in the churchyard as the coffin arrives, - As the hearse or funeral carriage approachs. The company comes to attention.

The band plays - Flowers of the Forest as the coffin is dismounted from the hearse and conducted to the church.

As the coffin travels from the gate to the church. The band plays

The Dead March of Saul

Inside the church - as the coffin is transported to the front. - typical music is played on the organ, relevant to the wishes of the family, and in keeping with the deceased and occassion.

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After the ceremony - It is usual for - the congregation to leave first and line the route between church door and the burial site / hearse at gate, as a markof respect.

The principle mourners will follow the coffinm as it is carried between the assembled mourners lining the route, -

- A piper might at this stage play a lament or the bugler play the last post.

- If a Private burial - As the coffin approachs the hearse so the Last Post is played and rifles fired.

As the hearse leaves , the congregation will disperses - As the band plays

The Girl I left Behind Me

At Graveside ( but see Private Burial above - It is usual for the last post to be played and rifles fired in witness, as the coffin is lowered to its final rest.

Ashore at a crematorium - If you have a uniformed coffin party, they would carry in the coffin, and then take their 'reserved' seats for the service. On completion they would then take their place at the front of the hall near the coffin. On caps and salute.
Otherwise the normal patten of Crematorium service is followed.
It is common at civilian organised funerals of ex Naval men, to play the Last Post as the curtains close.

If rifles are to be fired, at this jucture, a signal is passed to the firing party and they are fired outside.

The Flag - It is appropriate, irrespective of whether this is a formally organised event by the Navy, or a funeral service organised by the family. If the deceased has served in the Royal Navy, and above all has expressed thedesire to be so honoured, his coffin can carry either the Union flag or the White Ensign. It is usual for a man on active service to be represented, by the Union Flag, and if ex service by the White Ensign or other appropriate ensign. But there is no established rule in this defination. Ex service men are as entitled to the Union flag as serving men.

Any person active in the British Legion / Naval Assosiation, might have representation or guidance from them with respect to their own standard.

At a formal affair - After the coffin is laid in its grave or the curtains closed at the crematorium, the flag is removed and cerimoniously folded, by the coffin party, into a triangle for presentation to the Widow or oldest Son. This process needs the skills of at least two coffin beaters, alternatively if the flag has been borrowed, such presentation probably inappropriate.

Service Music - .

During the service - It is usulat obligatory to have the Naval Hymn.

See Button >> - NAVAL HYMN <<- Press Me

Another suitable Hymn - The Day Thou Gavest Lord Has Ended

 

Britain’s greatest Naval Hero, Lord Nelson was given a state funeral, although in his case it was organised by the military and not naval authorities. Only as an after thought was a forty eight strong naval contingent invited to escort the coffin car. These men being predominantly drawn from the crew of HMS Victory. Afterwards these men can be thought to have exacted their own revenge, for this miserly representation, for instead of folding up the shot torn ensign that had adorned the coffin, they tore it into pieces for souvineers.

There was also a small group of Greenwich pensioners lining the church steps and a 100 strong RM contingent were given a part to play.

As the funeral car processed from the Admiralty to St Pauls cathedral it was accompanied by military bands playing

- Dead March in Saul.

 

Other typical pieces of music for funerals are -

Rule Brittania, Heart of Oak or The Evening Hymn as played by the Royal Marines

 

Bidding Farewell to Shipmates

The above should give some ideas that can be adapted.

Remember Crematoriums provide basic facilities and organise you into 30 minute slots - You should plan no more than a twenty minute service.

If you need longer - use a church for the service and the Crematorium for a private committal. Or book a double session at the Crematorium.

A possible order of Service in a Crematorium
The funeral services / undertakers, will usually place the coffin in the chapel, before the congregation files in - Pick suitable music for the organist or CD player to play during this time.

The minister will then enter giving the usual words. In the service there will be prayers, bible readings after which two hymns are usually sung.

The euology or tributes are generally spoken between the hymns, the minister will guide you in this process.

After the second hymn there are further prayers before the minister closes the curtains.

You can if you have time request the local Naval establishment to provide a bugler who will play the last post for you.

Either as the curtain's close you can play Heart of Oak or another naval song that you find appropriate.

A short medley of sea music could be played as the mourners leave.

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If you decide to play a particular personal piece as the curtains close. Please ensure you give reference to it in the tribute speeches or on the service sheet.

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LAST POST

Officially this Bugle Call is only played at sea for a funeral. Ashore at memorials and funerals.

It also forms a special part of the Royal Marines Sunset display.

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As You Depart
Barry E. Scott ( 1948 - ) for Michael 2007

Though my heart grows heavy in sorrow, as you depart from here.
But pause with me just a moment, to picture the memories we shared,
So that tgether we can smile with me as we sip, from that treasure and know that each memory feeds me.

And recall that each drop was formed with my love, which shall now be thy guide and thy light.
For though my eyes now weep, in sadness, my arms ache to reach out and hold,
I take hope, that this will be but a brief farewell, not good bye, just a kiss goodnight

Crossing the Bar
Alfred, Lord Tennyson ~ 1809 to 1892

Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar, when I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep, too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep, turns again - home.

 

Twilight and evening bell, and after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell, when I embark;
For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place, the flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face, when I have crossed the bar.

 

Merchant Navy Funerals
On several occassions I have been asked to assist with music gor a Merchant Marine funeral and as since World War One the bravery and fortitude of those men have been nationally recogonised, whilst there is a close connection now betweeen the two services, with both often serving together. I feel it apropriate to add what I am able.

Musical Tradition

The merchant Navy has a long tradition like the RN of singing, in the foc'sle and ashore when in groups and of course no more apparant that in the exhibition of its Work Shanties. Of this tradition, perhaps one song has come to be representative of the Merchant Fleet and that is Maggie May.

Aboard ship,
Again liitle is recorded, excepting that at sea, a man is shrouded in his hammock, and with a dry tear wiped from the eye, he is slipped over the side with the appropriate words.

Funerals Ashore
Today, because of the recognition earned in the two Word Wars, national memorial services, always include representatiuon of the Merchant Marine and no centataph is complete, unless at the apropriatre times, it wears a wreath honouring the lost of that service. No where is this more apparant, than at the Britash Legion Festival of Rememberance. Of course in days gone by, that service, unlike the more regimented cousin, had no tradition in cerimonial parade, for marching or standing in file and therefore the legion, in its search to locate an appropriate marching song, chose what is perhaps the most significant of all tunes.

All the Nice Girls Love A Sailor

One that for generations now has been used to accompany a parade of Merchent Men, whether that be to church, or on other cerimonial situations like remberce Sunday. For decades that tune, has also been used to precede a coffin into a church.

A second piece sensitively arranged from the clasic tune of Maggie May, has been well receivied for such occasions. It is wriiten and arranged by Martyn Hancock (http://www.martynhancock.com/ ) an ex Royal Marine Bandsman, it is copyright to him., but can be played for personal use.

Merchant Navy Man

 

Naval Hymn

Eternal Father Strong To Save

Like the Senior service this is a requisite for all seafaring men. The version used for the Merchant Marine is the four verses in the standard hymn book. To date there is no middle verse known in tradition for the Merchant Marine Also see the RN Page By clicking this LINK

 

Other Music

Fidlers Green

Committal or Leaving the Church
Suitable music can be either Flowers of the Forest or The Girl I left Behind Me as noted above