Saying goodbye to Cpl Anderson

Saturday, 14 July 2007, Ceremonial Guard was asked to perform the funeral ceremony for Cpl Anderson, who died in an IED explosion on 04 July 2007 in Afghanistan. The pallbearers were from Cpl Anderson's home unit, 3PPCLI, and the escort and guard were from CG.

Meanwhile there were 2 other funerals on the 14th with another 3 to happen this week, to bury all 6 of the soldiers that died on that tragic day.

Military funerals are always a very emotional event. The ceremony, is full of tradition that while it can never bring back the dead, is the best way of to say good bye to a comrade in arms.

There are several elements that make up a military funeral. The first is the church service, the coffin draped in the National Flag, with the dead's bayonet, medals, and beret on top, gets marched into the church on the shoulders of member of his unit. Often there will be a bagpiper to pipe in the coffin, the guard will be there as an escort.

After the funeral service, comes the burial at the graveyard. Here the procession, composed of, the escort ( 20 soldiers and 1 Sergeant), the guard (12 soldiers and 1 Sergeant) with rifles reversed, the Funeral Commander, and then the pallbearers. Everyone salutes as the coffin is marched in on the shoulders of 8 of his unit members. During the ceremony, the guard fires 3 volleys, and rests on their arms. A trumpet plays last post, and the reveille, and the bagpipes play a lament. Near the end of the ceremony the coffin gets undressed, the flag folded and then the flag, medals, and beret get presented to the Mother or Widow. After the ceremony, everyone in their turn go to pay their final respects, the military members marching up to the coffin, halting and saluting.




Farewell Cpl Anderson