Common Military Funeral Mistakes UK

The Coffin Drape Is Upside Down

This is the most visible mistake at a military funeral, and it happens more often than you would expect. The Union Flag is asymmetrical — the broader white diagonal stripe must sit above the narrower one on the side nearest the flagpole (or, on a coffin, on the left shoulder of the deceased). Hang it the wrong way and the flag is technically upside down, a signal of distress rather than honour.

The rule: the canton — the upper corner with the combined crosses of St George, St Andrew, and St Patrick — goes at the head of the coffin, positioned over the deceased's left shoulder. The broader white diagonal stripe should be uppermost on the left side as you face the coffin from the foot end.

If the funeral director has limited military experience, they may not know this. Check it yourself before the service, or ask the standard bearer to verify when they arrive.

Ordering a Curved-Lid Coffin

A curved or domed coffin lid cannot support the traditional display items — a service cap, belt, and (for officers and warrant officers) a sword or pace stick. These items slide off a curved surface, which is undignified and potentially dangerous during a procession. A flat-lidded coffin is essential if anything is being placed on the drape.

Some funeral directors default to their standard coffin style unless told otherwise. Specify a flat lid when you book.

Missing the WPA 0010 Grant Deadline

War pensioners' families can claim help with funeral costs through Veterans UK using form WPA 0010 — but the claim must be submitted within three months of the funeral. Miss that window and the claim cannot be processed.

The three-month clock starts from the date of the funeral, not the date of death. Families who are still sorting the estate and processing grief often let this deadline slip, especially because Veterans UK does not send a reminder.

Similarly, the Bereavement Support Payment (form BSP1, submitted to the DWP) should be claimed within three months of the death for the full amount.

No Rehearsal at the Venue

A military funeral involves coordinated physical movements — a bearer party slow-marching through doorways, a standard bearer processing down an aisle, a bugler playing from a specific position — in a space that was not designed for them. Crematorium chapels have narrow aisles. Church doorways are sometimes too low for a shoulder lift. Gravesides on soft ground shift under the weight of six or eight bearers and a coffin.

Skipping the rehearsal — or assuming the funeral director and the volunteers will "sort it out on the day" — leads to hesitation, bumped shoulders, and awkward pauses that undercut the ceremony. A walkthrough at the venue the day before resolves the spatial problems you may encounter.

Using the Wrong Regimental Name

Regiments have been amalgamated repeatedly over the past 50 years. A veteran who joined the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment may have served under the Rifles by the time they discharged. The correct name in the eulogy, the order of service, and the funeral notice is the name the deceased actually served under — which may not be the name the family remembers.

Check with the regimental association or Veterans UK before printing the order of service. Getting it wrong in print is noticed by every veteran in the room.

Placing Unauthorised Items on the Flag

Only specific items may rest on the Union Flag coffin drape: a poppy wreath, the deceased's service cap, belt, and (if applicable) a sword or pace stick. Family photographs, personal mementos, civilian flowers, or religious items should not be placed on the flag. They belong on a separate table beside the coffin or at the foot of the catafalque.

This is not bureaucratic rigidity — it is about the flag representing service to the Crown. Personal items are honoured separately, and the distinction matters to veterans in the congregation.

Forgetting to Remove Items Before Cremation or Burial

The service cap, sword, belt, medals cushion, and the flag itself must all be removed from the coffin before it is lowered into the grave or withdrawn behind the crematorium curtains. The funeral director handles this, but in a rushed service — especially a tight crematorium slot — items have been cremated accidentally.

Agree the removal sequence with the funeral director before the service. The items must be removed before burial or cremation and returned to the family or a senior officer.

These are all avoidable with preparation. The Military Funeral — UK guide includes a pre-service verification checklist that covers every common error — from drape orientation to grant deadlines — so nothing is left to chance on the day.