A Catafalque party.

 

 

For our RAAF readers who probably haven’t a clue as to what a Catafalque Party is, here is the definition:

 

A catafalque is normally a raised platform supporting a bier (a stand) on which a coffin rests, but may be represented for ceremonial purposes by a shrine or remembrance stone.

 

At a memorial service for a distinguished personage, which is being held at a different location or time to the actual funeral, a representation of a catafalque may be erected in the churches concerned.

 

A catafalque party is a guard mounted over a catafalque on any one of the following occasions:

  • during a period of lying in state,

  • during a military funeral in a church,

  • at a memorial or special occasion such as ANZAC Day or Remembrance Day, and

  • during a memorial service in a church for a recently deceased distinguished personage.

A catafalque party consists of four sentries, a waiting member in reserve and a commander.

 

If a catafalque party is requested to be mounted for an extended period of e.g. ‘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. 

 

Legend has it that the first catafalque parties guarded important and wealthy people's coffins from thieves and vandals.