Catafalque party

A Catafalque party is a guard, usually of four people, that stands watch over the coffin and catafalque of a distinguished person or over a significant monument.[1]

A Catafalque party

A catafalque is a raised platform or bier supporting a coffin for display before burial. Historically, a guard was placed around the coffin to prevent any interference of the body during the period of lying in state. The guard was referred to as a catafalque party, and was therefore always armed. Although the need to protect the body is no longer the imperative, a catafalque party is still mounted for a lying in state as a form of respect for the deceased, and following the historical role, is always armed.

Catafalque parties are also commonly used for memorial services, such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day. On these occasions, the catafalque is represented by a cenotaph, shrine or remembrance stone.

In Australia, a catafalque party acts as sentries for the memorial or cenotaph during annual Anzac day commemorations.[2]

A catafalque party consists of a commander, four sentries and one reserve sentry. The four sentries and the reserve are to be armed. However, the catafalque party commander is not normally armed. Where a catafalque party is mounted for a lying in state, it is expected that the vigil will be for an extended period of time. Therefore relief parties are to be provided, with each party mounting a vigil not exceeding 30 minutes duration. However, vigils are not to be changed during a religious or memorial service. Liaison with the organising authority is required to ensure the catafalque party does not remain in location for an extended period of time.

For some memorial services, the access to the cenotaph, shrine or memorial stone, will dictate in what formation the catafalque party will form up in. However, the standard formation, to be used wherever possible, is with the catafalque party in file with the commander at the rear centre in a general position as follows:

a. When the vigil is to be mounted in a church; at the rear of the church facing the altar; or

b. When at a shrine or remembrance stone; on that side of the shrine opposite the official party. -OR

References
  1. "Catafalque Party". Australian Army. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  2. "Catafalque parties prepare for solemn Anzac Day duty". ABC News. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
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