RSA unveils war memorials to honour fallen colleagues with service of rededication

RSA Insurance, one of the UK’s largest insurers, yesterday unveiled the installation of their war memorials commemorating former colleagues who served and gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

The war memorials had originally been displayed at various RSA office buildings across the UK before eventually finding a home in the National Memorial Arboretum. However, in 2014, the memorials were placed in secure storage by the Arboretum when the Remembrance Centre was constructed, and a project to create a permanent home for them commenced in 2019.

The unveiling and rededication of the refurbished memorials at the Arboretum, comes following a colleague-led campaign to have them restored and put back on display, initially highlighted by Graham Briscoe, RSA Alumni and Tracey Fisher MBE who spearheaded the project. It makes RSA the first professional financial services organisation in the UK to have their war memorials for former colleagues displayed on-site at the Arboretum.

The event was attended by colleagues who were central to the creation of the site, including Tracey Fisher and Ross Shorto, Risk Consulting Team Leader at RSA whose great-great Uncle, Leonard Shorto worked for London & Lancashire Insurance Company and is commemorated on the memorial. Also in attendance were RSA CEO Ken Norgrove, the Royal British Legion, representatives from armed forces charities, veteran organisations, and the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations.

In addition to having the memorials relocated within the Arboretum, RSA has also developed an online database of information on the memorials and the names contained therein. A team of 10 volunteers, led by RSA Archive and Historic Records Director Tracey Fisher, researched the names of over 915 former RSA colleagues featured on the memorials, populating the database and creating a permanent memorial to honour these brave individuals. 

The unveiling of the RSA War Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum demonstrates RSA’s ongoing commitment to support the Armed Forces community. In January 2023, the insurer became a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, a government-backed scheme that advocates for the unique needs of those within the Armed Forces Community. The signing also marked the launch of the RSA Armed Forces Employee Resource Group (ERG), an open group for all those affiliated with the Armed Forces and for those interested in the impacts and challenges this community can sometimes face.

The RSA war memorials are now on display at the Arboretum. For more information about the Arboretum, please visit www.thenma.org.uk.

Ken Norgrove, Chief Executive Officer said, “The rededication service 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. With this service, we’re recognising those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and the rededication of the memorials in their new location, 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.”

Tracey Fisher MBE, RSA Archive and Historic Records Director added,”As someone who has always had a deep respect for those who have served and gave their lives for their country, I’m honoured to have led the restoration of these important war memorials.  It was a privilege to work with such a dedicated team of volunteers to ensure that we are preserving these memorials and documenting an important chapter of RSA’s 300-year history. These memorials commemorate the lives of normal people, who worked within the insurance industry but saw their lives catastrophically changed by the impact of war. Their sacrifices must never be forgotten and now by having the memorials back on display, they will be commemorated within this unique place of remembrance.”

Authored by RSA