Company war records
Many of Aviva's constituent companies actively encouraged their employees to enlist. They also recognised the need to support the families of those who volunteered.
The list below contains details from the war records of some of Aviva's constituent companies.
Australian Mutual Fire Insurance Society Ltd
30 members of staff, including two women, served in the forces and one is known to have died - 3% of those who served.
View more on Australian Mutual Fire Insurance Society Ltd
British General Insurance Company Ltd
Ocean Accident & Guarantee Corporation and British General Insurance Company war memorial
By the autumn of 1942, 184 or 50% of pre war male staff were serving and the board minutes record "also several lady members of staff have enlisted…191 staff are with the colours."
The company war record, as recorded in the staff magazine on 1945, is 257 members of staff, including six women, served in the forces of which 13 were killed – 5% of those who served.
The company roll of honour also includes four POWs, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, one Military Cross and a British Empire Medal.
The London head office staff were evacuated to Batts Hill House, Batts Hill, Redhill.
View more on British General Insurance Company Ltd
Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd
Commercial Union fire mannequins standing in the doorway at Cornhill, London.
According to the staff magazine of a total pre war home (UK) staff of 5,500 by the autumn of 1940 nearly 1,000 were in the forces. In total 1,048 staff served including 75 women, plus 343 staff (11 women) from the combined Commercial Union Ocean Group in the United States.
As well as staff from the United States those serving represented branches in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa India, Japan, Argentina, Kenya, Hong Kong and Singapore. 77 members of staff died of whom five were civilians the company's war record also includes 42 POWs, four Civilian Internees, 16 Distinguished Flying Crosses and three Military Crosses.
The company remained in its head office in Cornhill, London throughout the war even defiantly dressing the mannequin fire men who stood in the office doorway in protective clothing.
View more on Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd
Edinburgh Assurance Company Ltd
101 staff members, including nine women, joined the forces and five were killed - just under 5% of those who served.
The company roll of honour also includes one POW and two Distinguished Flying Crosses.
The company's London office was evacuated to Totteridge Lane, Totteridge, London N20
View more on Edinburgh Assurance Company Ltd
Employers' Liability Assurance Corporation Ltd
In 1942 the company records show that 232 members of staff were serving in the armed forces.
It is not known how many eventually served but 21 are known to have been killed. The company roll of honour also includes six POWs and three Military Crosses.
The company evacuated its London head office to a block of flats at 7 Christchurch Place, Epsom Surrey.
View more on Employers' Liability Assurance Corporation Ltd
Fine Art and General Insurance Company Ltd
Roll of honour for head office staff of Railway Passengers Assurance Company and Fine Art & General Insurance Company
Before the war the company had a total staff of 198 Home (UK) staff made up of 130 men and 68 women. 48 men and four women served in the forces during the war, a total of 52, of whom three plus one civilian were killed - 17% of those who served died.
The company's London head office was evacuated, along with that of the parent company, to Newland Park, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire.
View more on Fine Art and General Insurance Company Ltd
General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Ltd
General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation war memorial
According to the board minutes of September 1945 of a total pre war Home (UK) staff of 4,241 for the company and its subsidiaries 1,842 were on active service, 122 killed, six missing and four still being held as POWs. The staff magazine of September 1946 records that 2,416 home and overseas staff had served of whom 139 were killed or died on active service and 95 were POWs. Six civilian members of staff were also killed by enemy action.
Our roll of honour for the company comprises 106 died or killed including three civilians, 69 POWs, including Cookie Long who took part in the so called "great escape" from Stalag Luft III, 13 Distinguished Flying Crosses and six Military Medals.
The London offices of General Accident at 99 Aldwych remained open throughout the war. Some departments, like the Engineering Department, were evacuated to Perth in Scotland and the Trustee Department was evacuated to Market House, Market Square, Aylesbury.
View more on General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Ltd
General Life Assurance Company
At the London head office 22 out of the 63 members of staff enlisted. It is not known how many men and women in total served but one member of staff is known to have died. The company roll of honour also includes one POW.
The London head office was evacuated to the head office if its parent company, General Accident, in Perth, Scotland.
View more on General Life Assurance Company
The Guarantee Society Ltd
It is not known how many members of staff served but two are known to have died.
The London head office of the company was evacuated to Enton Mill House, Witley, Surrey.
View more on The Guarantee Society Ltd
Indemnity Marine Assurance Company Ltd
It is not known how many members of staff served but three are known to have died.
View more on Indemnity Marine Assurance Company Ltd
Insurance Office of Australia Ltd
It is not known how many staff served but two are known to have died. The company roll of honour also includes one POW and one Distinguished Flying Cross.
View more on Insurance Office of Australia Ltd
L'Abeille Compagnies d'Assurances
L'Abeille Compagnies d'Assurance war memorial
It is not known how many staff members served but 37 are known to have died.
View more on L'Abeille Compagnies d'Assurances
London and Scottish Assurance Corporation Ltd
It is not known how many staff served but four are known to have died. The company roll of honour also includes three POWs and four Distinguished Flying Crosses.
The company's London head office was evacuated to Dower House, Swallow Road, Cheam.
View more on London and Scottish Assurance Corporation Ltd
National Guarantee and Suretyship Association Ltd
It is not known how many members of staff served in the forces but one is known to have died.
View more on National Guarantee and Suretyship Association Ltd
New Zealand Insurance Company Ltd
The Aviva Group Archive holds no records to provide information on numbers of staff serving or on how many were killed.
The company evacuated its London office to Jesmond Lodge, Hatchlands Road, Redhill.
View more on New Zealand Insurance Company Ltd
North British and Mercantile Insurance Company Ltd
According to the company's summary war record of a total UK pre war staff of 1,198 (767 men and 431 women), 408 enlisted including 36 women. The total number of home and overseas staff who served was 1,046 including 77 women. 41 members of staff died including five civilians – 3% of those who served died. The company roll of honour also includes 21 POWs, three Civilian internees, eight Distinguished Flying Crosses, including John T Ross the most decorated member of staff, and three Military Medals.
The company evacuated its London head office to Newland Park, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire. The life department was evacuated to Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.
View more on North British and Mercantile Insurance Company Ltd
The Northern Assurance Company Ltd
Northern Assurance memorial book
It is not known how many staff served in total but 35 are known to have died. The company's roll of honour also includes 12 POWs, one Distinguished Flying Cross and four Military Crosses.
The company's London head office remained open throughout the war. The Chatham office was evacuated to Braehead, Willington Near Maidstone.
View more on The Northern Assurance Company Ltd
Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society Ltd
Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society war memorial
According to the staff magazine of summer 1941 46% of pre war male staff from the Fire Society's head office and home branches were serving with the forces plus 25 from overseas branches. By the following year the magazine recorded that 704 men and 51 women from the staff were in the armed services.
It is not known how many staff served in total but 44 are known to have died. The company roll of honour also includes 23 POWs, two civilian internees, seven Distinguished Flying Crosses and five Military Crosses.
The company's London office was evacuated to Horsenden Manor, Princes Risborough.
View more on Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society Ltd
The Norwich Union Life Insurance Society
Norwich Union Life Insurance Society war memorial
According to the Annual General Meeting minutes of 1940 the company had 150 members of staff serving with the forces. It is not known how many served in total but 32 are known to have died including one civilian, Joyce Fox, who at 15 was the youngest member of staff to be killed. The company roll of honour also includes 15 POWs and two Military Crosses.
The company's London office was evacuated to The Spa Hotel, Hartington Road, Buxton.
View more on The Norwich Union Life Insurance Society
Ocean Accident and Guarantee Assurance Corporation Ltd
Ocean Accident & Guarantee Corporation and British General Insurance Company war memorial
603 members of staff served in the forces including 30 women. 42 members of staff died including four civilians - 6% of those who served died. The company roll of honour also includes 19 POWs, 10 Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Military Medals.
View more on Ocean Accident and Guarantee Assurance Corporation Ltd
Ocean Marine Insurance Company Ltd
Of a total pre war staff of 50 including nine women, 10 served with the forces. One member of staff is known to have died - 10% of those who served. The company's roll of honour also includes one POW.
The company's London head office was evacuated to Northwood.
View more on Ocean Marine Insurance Company Ltd
Palatine Insurance Company Ltd
28 members of staff served with the forces. One member of staff is known to have died - representing 3% of those who served. The company roll of honour also includes one POW.
Potomac Insurance Company of the District of Columbia
It is not known how many members of staff served but one is known to have died. The company roll of honour also includes one Distinguished Flying Cross.
View more on Potomac Insurance Company of the District of Columbia
Provident Accident and White Cross Insurance Company Ltd
It is not known how many members of staff served but nine are known to have died including two civilians. The company roll of honour also includes one Military Cross.
The company evacuated its London head office to two bases: 45, Wine Street Bristol and Daimler House, 31 London Road, Leicester.
View more on Provident Accident and White Cross Insurance Company Ltd
Provident Mutual Life Assurance Association
It is not known how many staff members served but three are known to have died. The company roll of honour also includes one POW who was also awarded the Military Cross.
The company's evacuated its London head office to Alresford Place, Old Alresford, Hampshire and was one of the first insurance companies to take such measures to protect its staff and business.
View more on Provident Mutual Life Assurance Association
Railway Passengers Assurance Company
Roll of honour for head office staff of Railway Passengers Assurance Company and Fine Art & General Insurance Company
Of a total UK pre war staff of 584, including 215 women, 212 served with the forces including 17 women. It is not known how many members of staff served in total including those from overseas branches but 16 members of staff are known to have died including two civilians. The company roll of honour also includes six POWs and one Military Cross.
The company's London head office was evacuated, along with that of the parent company, to Newland Park, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire.
View more on Railway Passengers Assurance Company
Road Transport and General Insurance Company Ltd
It is not known how many members of staff served in the forces but 33 are known to have died including two civilians. The company roll of honour also includes seven POWs, four Distinguished Flying Crosses and one Military Cross.
View more on Road Transport and General Insurance Company Ltd
Scottish Boiler and General Insurance Company Ltd
It is not known how many members of staff served in the forces and none are known to have died. The company roll of honour comprises one known decoration.
View more on Scottish Boiler and General Insurance Company Ltd
Scottish General Insurance Company Ltd
It is not known how many members of staff served in the forces but nine are known to have died. The company roll of honour also includes two POWs and one Military Cross.
View more on Scottish General Insurance Company Ltd
Scottish Insurance Corporation Ltd
It is not known how many members of staff served in the forces but two are known to have died.
Most departments at the company's London office were initially evacuated to 29, Gildredge Road, Eastbourne but returned to 110 Cannon Street London in 1940.
View more on Scottish Insurance Corporation Ltd
Scottish Metropolitan Assurance Company Ltd
It is not known how many members of staff served in the forces but two are known to have died.
View more on Scottish Metropolitan Assurance Company Ltd
Scottish Union & National Insurance Company
According to the board minutes of December 1943 268 men or 54.5 % of the male staff were serving with His Majesty's forces plus 23 female staff. Of this number 10 had been killed, one was missing, eight were POWs and three had been decorated. The board minutes of January 1945 reported that 14 members of staff had been killed, eight were POWs, 13 had been wounded, two were missing, five were civilian air raid casualties and six had been decorated.
It is not known how many members of staff finally served but 19 are known to have died. The company roll of honour also includes 12 POWs, three Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Military Crosses.
View more on Scottish Union & National Insurance Company
South British Insurance Company Ltd
It is not known how many members of staff served but 16 are known to have died. The company roll of honour also includes 12 POWs, six civilian internees, three Distinguished Flying Crosses and one Military Cross.
View more on South British Insurance Company Ltd
Union Assurance Society Ltd
295 members of staff served with the forces including 15 women. 18 members of staff are known to have died - 6% of those who served. The company roll of honour also includes 14 POWs and one Military Cross.
View more on Union Assurance Society Ltd
United Scottish Insurance Company Ltd
The Aviva Group Archive holds no records to provide information on numbers of staff serving or on how many were killed.
The company evacuated its London office to Jesmond Lodge, Hatchlands Road, Redhill.
View more on United Scottish Insurance Company Ltd
Yorkshire Insurance Company Ltd
The Aviva Group Archive holds no records to provide information on numbers of staff serving nor details of those who died although we know that five members of staff had died by 1942.
The company's London staff were evacuated to Southlands Hotel Little Hampton and to Naseby Hall, Northamptonshire. The London life department was evacuated to the York head office.
