On this page you will find information about:
- Repatriation for Service personnel.
- Repatriation for veterans.
- Emotional support and other organisations that can help.
Repatriation is the act of bringing someone's body back to the country they came from after their death. The support you can receive to bring the body of your loved one back from abroad after their death depends on whether they were currently serving in the Armed Forces or an Armed Forces veteran.
For Service personnel
If your loved one has died in Service, the Armed Forces will pay:
- to bring the body back to the UK from overseas or to transport it to the spouse or partner’s home country, and
- for the provision of a coffin, and delivery to an undertaker of your choice.
The Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) manages casualties and compassionate cases for currently serving personnel and their families. This includes informing the next of kin as soon as practically possible when something has happened and keeping serving personnel informed of compassionate situations at home while they are away with work.
For ex-service personnel and veterans
Support from British Embassies
If the person died abroad, the British Consulate in that country can give advice about:
- registering the death - how this is done depends on the country
- arranging for the funeral to be in the country where the person died, and
- bringing the body back to the UK (see below).
Contact the person’s travel or life insurers to help cover the cost, or, if the deceased was not insured, then friends and family may be able to help. The British Consulate can help transfer money from friends and family in the UK to pay these costs.
Support from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is a government department that is able to help you if you are facing the death of a loved one overseas.
The FCDO might be able to help you by providing advice on topics such as:
- finding local funeral directors, lawyers abroad, translators or interpreters and charities
- local rules and procedures when someone dies
- contacting the local authorities
- how to request updates to any local investigation if relevant to your situation
The Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) will not pay burial, cremation, or repatriation expenses, or settle any debts. Neither the Royal British Legion nor the Armed Forces are able to help financially.
Get in touch
Contact an embassy, high commission or consulate through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office by:
Telephone: 02070 085 000
Or seek travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development office by:
Bringing the body home
To bring the body home you need:
- a certified English translation of the death certificate.
- permission to remove the body from a coroner (or equivalent) in the country where the person died.
The British Consulate can help to arrange this.
You can find out more in coping with death abroad on GOV.UK.
Practical and emotional support
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is hard and overwhelming. Repatriation may just be one step or decision that you are currently facing.
There is both practical and emotional support available from a number of organisations to help you through this time.
Support from your local council
Local councils provide support for those experiencing bereavement, but the support available can vary between each council.
Find out more about bereavement support available to you if you live in:
Help from Cruse Bereavement Care
Cruse Bereavement Care is a charity that is here to provide support to people going through the loss of a loved one whether its face-to-face, by telephone, email or on through guides on their website.
Get in touch
Visit Cruse's website to learn more about the support they can provide you with or get in touch by:
Telephone: 08088 081 677
Email: [email protected]
Bereavement guides for families of service personnel
Support from the MOD
Families who have lost a loved one will receive a hard copy Purple Pack via their visiting officer. Within the Purple Pack you will find information on:
- Immediate issues faced by families.
- Funerals.
- Entitlement and benefits.
- Various support networks.
Read an online extended version of the MOD's Purple Pack bereavement guide on GOV.UK.
Information guides on the RBL website
The Royal British Legion is here for everyone in the Armed Forces community, from the first day of service onwards. Whether you are currently serving, ex-serving or the family member of someone who is or has served, you could be eligible for support.
Guidance on viewing bodies in a place of rest for families of serving personnel
In the instance of an operational repatriation in particular, you will not be able to view the body until the post-mortem.
Information on registering a death
To get a Death Certificate, all deaths must be formally registered.
Find more information on registering military deaths on the Cruse Bereavement Support website.
Guidance on scattering ashes
After the death and cremation of a loved one you may wish to scatter their ashes, or they may have made this request in their Will. The guidance below contains helpful information on scattering ashes in the UK and overseas, including regulations when travelling.
Learn more about how to scatter ashes in the UK and overseas here on the RBL website.
Information on pensions
Following the death of a loved one, you should inform the deceased person's pension provider(s) as soon as possible. Contact Veterans UK and any other pension providers if the deceased worked elsewhere.
Learn more about Veterans UK and how it may be able to help you on the GOV.UK website.
Support from the Royal British Legion
The RBL offer support to those who are serving, ex-service and their dependents, after just one day of service and continually through life.
Find out more about how the RBL could support you when you are bereaved here on our website.
If you need help dealing with your grief or managing on your own, contact us at the Royal British Legion.
Guidance for those bereaved by suicide
Losing someone by suicide can feel very different to any other kind of grief or bereavement.
If you require support due to the way you are feeling following experiencing a suicide your GP may be able to help you and is a good first point of call.
The guides linked below can help if you are feeling isolated, lonely, sad or are looking for support.
- Coping when someone dies by suicide, provided by Cruse Bereavement Support on their website.
- Grief after suicide - Cruse Bereavement Support provided by Cruse Bereavement.
- Losing someone to suicide provided by Mind on their website.
Samaritans
Samaritans is a specialist organisation that can help you through crisis moments. They understand how members of the Armed Forces community are particularly affected, and have tailored, considerate support.
Learn more about the Samaritans Veterans app and how it can help.
The Samaritans Crisis team understand that sometimes talking over instant message can be less daunting than calling them up. And so, Samaritans are trialling an online chat function just for the Armed Forces community.
Find the Samaritans' online chat for the military community.
Get in touch
Visit the Samaritans website to chat online, or:
Telephone: 116 123
Open 24- hours a day, 365 days a year
Email: [email protected]
It may take several days to get a response by email
Post: Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS
Mind
Mind are a charity that helps people experiencing mental health problems in England and Wales. Their support helpline is open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and are here for you if you want:
- To talk about your feelings without fear of judgement.
- Help to find support available to you.
Get in touch
Visit the Mind website to chat online, or:
Telephone: 0300 102 1234 (support line)
Email: [email protected]
The line is open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
“At Your Side” guides from Suicide Bereavement UK
The guides below were written and created by Suicide Bereavement UK to support people in the Armed Forces Community who have been bereaved by suicide. The guides were produced with individuals bereaved by suicide as well as experts in military mental health, suicide prevention and bereavement.
Find out more about the ‘At Your Side’ guides on the Suicide Bereavement UK website.
Read guides specifically tailored to support:
Scotty’s Little Soldiers
The charity, Scotty’s Little Soldiers, offers support to children and young people who have been bereaved by the death of a military parent, regardless of their cause of death.
The charity supports beneficiaries up to the age of 25 and offers a respite from the daily ups and downs of coping with the loss of a parent.
To find out more about the support the RBL could offer you, contact us via
Telephone overseas: +44 (0)20 3376 8080
Calls are free from UK landlines and main mobile networks
Email: [email protected]
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