There are some phrases that almost everyone recognises, even if they have never served in the Armed Forces.
"Once a Royal Marine, always a Royal Marine." is one of them.
It's a phrase I've heard many times whilst arranging funerals with families, and every time I hear it, I understand a little more about what it really means. It isn't simply a saying that has been passed down over the years. For the men who have earned the Green Beret, it reflects a way of life that stays with them long after military service has ended.
One of the things I enjoy most about meeting families is listening to the stories they share. Before we've spoken about hymns, music or the order of service, the conversation usually turns to the person they have lost. They tell me about their sense of humour, their determination, their loyalty to family and friends and the quiet way they got on with life. As those conversations unfold, it quickly becomes clear that many of those qualities were strengthened during their time in the Royal Marines.
It's easy to think of the Royal Marines simply as one branch of the Armed Forces, but for those who have served, it is so much more than that. It becomes part of who they are. Even after leaving the Corps, many veterans continue to follow Royal Marines news, attend reunions and stay in touch with former comrades. The friendships built during service are often unlike any others, and that bond remains incredibly strong throughout their lives.
One item that often takes pride of place during a Royal Marines funeral is the Green Beret. Families will sometimes bring it with them when we meet, carefully stored alongside medals, photographs and other treasured keepsakes. It isn't just another part of a uniform. Everyone understands what it took to earn the right to wear it, and because of that it represents determination, resilience and commitment in a way that very few other military symbols can.
I've seen the comfort that simple gesture can bring when the Green Beret is placed on the coffin. It immediately tells part of the story of the person being remembered without a single word needing to be spoken. It reminds everyone present that this was someone who accepted one of the toughest challenges in military service and saw it through.
One thing that has always struck me about Royal Marines funerals is the strength of the brotherhood that still exists years, and sometimes decades, after someone has left the Corps. Former comrades will often travel considerable distances simply to stand alongside the family and pay their respects. Some may not have seen one another for years, yet within moments they are sharing stories and memories as though no time has passed at all.
Watching those reunions is often one of the most moving parts of the day. They are a reminder that the friendships formed during military service aren't based on convenience or circumstance. They are built through shared experiences, trust and a deep understanding of what it means to serve alongside one another.
Families often ask whether they can include military traditions within the funeral, and the answer is almost always yes. Every funeral is different because every family is different. Some choose to keep military references quite simple, perhaps displaying medals, photographs or the Green Beret. Others include standard bearers, the Last Post, a guard of honour or military music. There is no right or wrong approach. The most important thing is that the service reflects the person rather than becoming a display of military ceremony.
In my experience, the most memorable military funerals are those where tradition and personality sit comfortably alongside one another. Military honours add dignity and respect, but they should never overshadow the individual. Families don't remember a funeral because every protocol was followed perfectly. They remember how the service made them feel and whether it truly reflected the life of the person they loved.
One of the questions I am asked quite regularly is about the Last Post. Even people with no military background recognise its haunting notes, yet few know why it carries such significance. When it is played during a Royal Marines funeral, it creates a moment that words often cannot. Everything becomes still. Conversations stop. Heads bow naturally. It is a final act of remembrance that seems to unite everyone present, whether they have served themselves or not.
The committal is another moment that deserves careful thought. I've often said that whilst the eulogy tells the story of someone's life, the committal is where we say our final goodbye. It is the point where words become farewell. If standards are lowered, the Last Post is sounded or a period of silence follows, those traditions become powerful expressions of gratitude and respect. They are not simply military customs. They are acts of remembrance that acknowledge both the person's service and the life they lived beyond the uniform.
Perhaps the greatest lesson I've learnt from conducting Royal Marines funerals is that the qualities developed during military service rarely disappear when someone returns to civilian life. Families talk about kindness, quiet determination, humility, reliability and an ability to remain calm when life became difficult. Those are the characteristics they remember most, and they often tell me that they believe their time in the Corps helped shape the person they became.
Medals, uniforms and photographs are important because they help tell part of the story, but they are never the whole story. The greatest legacy any Royal Marine leaves behind is found in the lives they touched, the friendships they built and the example they set for others. That is what families remember, and that is what deserves to be celebrated during a funeral.
Every Royal Marines funeral reminds me that military traditions exist for a reason. They aren't there to impress or to create ceremony for ceremony's sake. They exist because they express respect in ways that words sometimes cannot. They honour commitment, courage and sacrifice, while also reminding families that the person they are saying goodbye to will always remain part of a much wider military family.
Perhaps that's why those familiar words continue to mean so much.
Once a Royal Marine, always a Royal Marine.
For those who have earned the Green Beret, it is never simply a motto. It is part of their identity, part of their story and, for many families, one of the most meaningful parts of the farewell they create together.
If you would like to learn more about me, my background, and the services I offer, please visit my About Jon Matson-Higgins page or my Funeral Celebrantpage.
I have created some basic information to help guide what to do after someone passes away, and some resources to support bereavement. I understand that planning a ceremony can sometimes feel overwhelming, so if you have any questions or would simply like an informal chat, please feel free to contact me through my contact page.
The information given in this blog is for information only
Written by Jon Matson-Higgins, Minister & Celebrant based in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Rutland and Northamptonshire