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Our war memorials
30 October 2025
Read time: 9 minutes
The memorials on display at the National Memorial Arboretum were originally commissioned by our former companies. Over the years, these companies all became part of the Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group of companies. Now, as Intact Insurance, we recognise the ultimate sacrifice given by our former colleagues during World War I and II.
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.
"Born in 1893 at Woodfield, Hatfield in Hertfordshire. Son of Evan Alcock and Evelyn Maud Nepean of St Albans. Evan enlisted in the London Scottish Regiment on 5th November 1914. He received his commission in April 1915 and was posted to the Western Front with the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Served at Salonika for three years, returning to the Western Front in 1918 with the Royal Fusiliers. He was killed at Le Catelet, aged 25, on 4th October 1918 (one month before the Armistice was signed). His fellow officers wrote: "His was a grand character; he was brave, loyal and courteous, always thinking of his men's comfort.", "such a good officer, and one without fear – a gallant Scottish soldier", " one of the bravest gentlemen that ever wore the King's uniform.""
Lieutenant Evan Cecil Nepean - Alliance Assurance Company, Head Office, London.
"Born 11 September 1897, son of local surgeon, Henry Goudie, and his wife, Isabella. Lived on Westoe Parade, South Shields. He worked for Royal Insurance in Edinburgh. When he was only 16 in 1914 he enlisted as an orderly with the Royal Army Medical Corps. On 25th June 1915, at the age of 17, he was given a commission. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders. He was killed during the Battle of the Somme, on 17th August 1916. A month earlier, he had been awarded the Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry. He led his men through heavy machine gun and rifle fire and bombed the enemy's front trench. He returned under fire with a stretcher to bring in a wounded man.""
Second Lieutenant Humphrey Blaikie Goudie-MC - Royal Insurance, Edinburgh.
"Private John McRae served in the 5th Gordon Highlanders. John was an Agency inspector in the Aberdeen Office of the Royal Insurance Company. His obituary describes how John had served for many years with Royal Insurance and was a young man of fine character who served the company with efficiency and devotion and endeared himself to his colleagues by his kindly disposition and unfailing courtesy. John enlisted through Lord Derby’s scheme in 1916. His father Duncan McRae was notified in January 1917 that John had been killed in action."
Private John McRae - Royal Insurance Company, Aberdeen.
"Second Lieutenant Reginald Dudley Bawdwen Anderson served in the 11th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. He worked in the Leeds Office of London Liverpool and Globe Insurance Company. Reginald was the second son of Reginald Gustavus Lincoln Anderson, a school headmaster, and Blanche Gertrude Anderson, of Ashfield House, Wakefield. Reginald was reported wounded and missing on 1st July 1916. He was confirmed as being killed in August 1916 at only 20 years old. Reginald was lost on the same day that his brother, Bernard (M.C) also died aged 25 serving with the Lincolnshire Regiment."
Second Lieutenant Reginald Dudley Bawdwen Anderson - London Liverpool and Globe Insurance Company.
The names of those remembered have been researched and their details recorded. See the full roll of honour here.
As our offices closed, the memorials were collected together. In 1999, a dedicated 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. 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.
The memorials stand under the railway bridge at the NMA because they need protection from the elements. They've 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.
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 our 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 for those remembered. I am proud that I have been able to champion remembering our company's heritage.
Tracey Fisher, Archive and Historic Records Director
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 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, Intact Insurance 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, CEO at Intact Insurance
