Magnetic ordering of the rare-earth (R) and Fe sublattices in R-Fe based intermetallic compounds is normally a cooperative phenomenon with the R and Fe sublattices ordering together - at the same temperature. We have recently studied the RFe 6 Ge 6 and RFe 6 Sn 6 compounds using a combination of neutron powder diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy (both 5 7 Fe and 1 1 9 Sn). These series show independent magnetic behaviour of the R and Fe sublattices. The Fe sublattice orders antiferromagnetically below a Neel temperature of ~485 K in RFe 6 Ge 6 and ~555 K in RFe 6 Sn 6 . The R sublattice orders predominantly ferromagnetically at much lower temperatures, ranging from 45 K for GdFe 6 Sn 6 to 3 K for ErFe 6 Ge 6 , without affecting the Fe order. Here, we review neutron diffraction and Mossbauer work carried out in the study of this magnetic independence.