Military Funerals
Funerals for Veterans and the Armed Forces with Rowland Brothers
Funerals for Veterans and the Armed Forces with Rowland Brothers
Rowland Brothers are dedicated to honouring those who have served our countries and put their lives on the line for the United Kingdom.
We are proud of the men and women who have sworn allegiance to the King and are committed to honouring these Veterans to the best of our ability.
We work efficiently and compassionately to deliver a personal day that honours the formal requirements of the service while assisting the family with the many regulatory procedures included in service personnel funerals.
For instance, the Union Flag draped over the coffin, a wreath from their parent Regiment or Royal British Legion, Standard Bearers, Last Post and Reveille played are traditions carried out at no extra cost to families.
The Armed Forces Covenant
The government published the Armed Forces Covenant in 2011 setting out the relationship between the nation, the armed forces and the government the same year Croydon became the first London borough to sign a Community Covenant.
Rowland Brothers are proud to be the first funeral directors in the Country to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, showing our commitment to supporting service men and women and their families.
Gold Award Holders
We’re delighted to have received the Gold award for the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme. Please read our article here.
At Rowland Brothers we recognise the skills and talent service personnel can bring to our organisation.
If you’d like to apply for a career with us, find our current vacancies on the careers page.
Our Story
The Rowland Family have a history of serving their country, the reason such a strong esprit de corps persists at the firm.
Director, Tony Rowland’s Great Grandfather was Admiral Reed, the captain of the last sailing warship in the British Royal Navy. During his illustrious career, Reed mapped the China Sea.
Throughout the generations, the Rowland Brothers continued to serve their country.
Sir Edward James Reed
Tony Rowland’s Great Grandfather was Admiral Reed who passed away in 1873. During his illustrious career he mapped the China Sea and was captain of the last sailing warship in the British Royal Navy. Admiral Reeds Brother was Sir Edward James Reed, born 20th September 1830 passed away 30th November 1906, KCB, FRS. He was the Chief Constructor of the Royal Navy from 1863 until 1870. His term of office saw the final transition from wooden to ironclad warships. Including HMS Bellerophon HMS Monarch and HMS Devastation. He was a Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1874 to 1906.
Clarence Rowland (Arthur)
Tony Rowland’s father joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1939 when war broke out. He was sent to the Middle East and saw service in El Alamein in 1942. He was demobbed in 1945.
James William Rowland (Jimmy)
Jim joined in 1942 also into the Royal Army Medical Corps. Jimmy took part in the D-Day landings in 1944 and was also demobbed in 1945.
Tony Rowland, Chairman of Rowland Brothers
Tony completed his national service in the Royal Army Ordinance Corps. Tony joined on 21st March 1957 and was demobbed on 19th March 1959. He was posted to Blackdown near Woking where he applied 56 times to serve abroad and ended up in Didcot! Tony was a lance corporal, camp carpenter and for 6 weeks was the regimental drill instructor.
Our Staff Who Have Served
Rowland Brothers are proud to be part of the Armed Forces covenant and were the first funeral directors in the country to do so, pledging our ongoing support to British servicemen and the community.
Tony Pearson
Branch Manager and Conductor. Royal Corps of Transport Tony joined up in 1984 and spent time in the UK, Germany, and a tour of duty with UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. He Left in 1988 due to arthritic knees. He went on to be first Borough Military Champion in Croydon and Chair of New Addington Royal British Legion
John Rule
Area Manager and Conductor John Joined the Grenadier Guards 1977 as a Junior Guardsman completing one year’s training before being posted to Chelsea Barracks to provide public duties including Queen’s Birthday Parades and Royal Guards. John spent three months in Kenya in 1979 was posted to Münster BAOR in Germany, subsequently spending 4 months in Londonderry and two armoured training tours in Canada. In 1982 John returned to Chelsea Barracks. He also served 6 months In Cyprus and 6 months in Belize. In 1986, he spent 2 years on an accompanied tour to Northern Ireland. Then in 1988 he went back to Caterham for public duties, finally spending 3 months in Kenya.