A
Catafalque explained
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Bdr
Matthew Smith and LBdr Peter Kennedy, AFG, at the Anzac
Day dawn service in Gallipoli, 2002.
Photo by Jason Weeding
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Legend
has it that the first catafalque (pronounced cat-a-falk) parties
guarded important and wealthy people’s coffins from thieves
and vandals.
A catafalque, normally a raised platform supporting a bier on
which a coffin rests, may be represented for ceremonial purposes
by a shrine or remembrance stone.
A catafalque party is a guard, mounted over a catafalque on any
one of the following occasions:
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During a period of lying in state,
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During a military funeral in a church,
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At a memorial or special occasion such as Anzac Day or Remembrance
Day
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During
a memorial service in a church for a recently deceased distinguished
person.
A
catafalque party consists of four sentries, a waiting member in
reserve and a commander.
If a catafalque party is to be mounted by request, for an extended
period of “lying in state” then a series of “watches”
divided into “vigil” periods will be provided.
A catafalque party must not be senior in rank to the deceased over
whom it is mounted.
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