Our War Memorials
Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Limited Company Memorials
The memorials on display at the National Memorial Arboretum were originally commissioned by our former companies that over the years all became part of the Royal Sun Alliance Insurance Group of companies.
Service of Rededication at the National Memorial Arboretum
Watch as we commemorate the relocation and placement of 27 hand-cut memorials, to recognise the ultimate sacrifice given by former RSA workers during World War I and II.
The memorials were once located within the local branch offices of Royal and Sun Alliance companies across the UK and included the following companies:
Relocating the memorials
As our offices closed, the memorials were collected together and in 1999, a dedicated RSA Memorial garden was created at Inglewood, our former training centre on the Wirral.
When Inglewood was sold in 2003, all of the memorials were moved to the NMA where they were displayed in the cloistered garden for many years until the area was redeveloped in 2014 to make way for the new Visitor Centre.
The planning and preparation work to relocate the memorials to their current location began in 2019 and took just over three years to complete.
This project means the world to me. It was wrong that these memorials were hidden away in a container and not on display for visitors to see the names and honour the memories of those who served and gave their lives. I became determined that I would do what I could to relocate the memorials to a new location at the NMA and that is what kept me focused throughout the project – no one else knew they were there – if I gave up on the project, then those 915 names on the 27 memorials would languish in a container and that part of RSA’s history would be forgotten. To know that they are there out on display now at the NMA fills me with such a huge sense of pride both individually for those remembered and from an RSA perspective. I am proud that I have been able to champion remembering RSA’ s heritage.
Tracey Fisher - Archive and Historic Records Director
Preserving RSA history
The memorials stand under the railway bridge at the NMA because they need protection from the elements and have been mounted on stainless steel posts to protect against flooding and to ensure that they won’t rot or rust.
There are 27 memorials in total, made from different materials including bronze, granite and marble. You are able to walk round them in any direction and see the details and design of the castings at close hand.
Today’s re-dedication service has been a time for remembrance and reflection and has brought about feelings of deep respect and appreciation. I could not be prouder of the contribution made by former RSA colleagues across the two world wars – at home and abroad – and the role they played in helping to protect democracy in Europe. Today, we’re recognising those who paid the ultimate sacrifice with this service and the unveiling of this new memorial, and I’m grateful to the National Memorial Arboretum, RSA pensioner Graham Briscoe and especially Tracey Fisher MBE for their hard work in helping to create this important and moving place for anyone to visit.
Ken Norgrove - Chief Executive Officer
The memorials were dedicated on Thursday 20 April 2023 by Mr. Ken Norgrove, Chief Executive Officer, RSA UK & International Limited.
Lest we forget
Each of those remembered on the memorials served their country and in many cases gave their lives. Together, a total of 915 of our former colleagues are remembered here. All were employed in the UK, Ireland and the across the globe including those who worked in our Canadian, Australian, French, New Zealand and South African branches.
The memorials commemorate the lives of normal people, who worked within the insurance industry, but who saw their lives catastrophically changed by the impact of war. Today, together, they create a lasting memorial and place of remembrance, ensuring that the service they gave and sacrifices they made throughout both World Wars will never be forgotten.