The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

dhubthaigh · Last edited by dhubthaigh on Fri Nov 30, 2007 2:02 pm; edited 2 times in total

Map Information Location:
Grid ref: NO097222
Web Address: www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=56.3836&lon=-3.4626&scale=25000&icon=x
These plaques are now situated at the former General Accident World Headquarters, Pitheavlis, Perth (now Norwich Union). They would have originally been in their Offices in the city's Tay Street.

Memorial plaques for the following companies:

General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Ltd.
Scottish Assurance Corporation Ltd.
The General Life Assurance Company
Scottish General Insurance Company Ltd.
Road Transport & General Insurance Company Ltd.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 2:40 pm Post subject:

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 2:54 pm Post subject:

SOMETIMES SOMETHING HITS ME THAT GIVES A 'SENSE' OF THE ENORMITY OF THE EVENTS IN WHICH WE ARE INTERESTED. THOSE WORDS DID JUST THAT.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 2:56 pm Post subject:

Here is a timeline of General Accidents key events from the Aviva Website;
http://www.aviva.com/index.asp?pageid=76

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 3:02 pm Post subject:

One of Scotland's truly global companies these plaques pay tribute to fallen employees from around the world.
The stories of those from Belgium, Holland and the United States may be slightly more difficult to unravel however.
From a newspaper article I read recently the following casualty was destined to be head of the G.A. until the troopship 'Transylvania', on which he was travelling, was torpedoed in the Mediterranean in 1917

Name: NORIE-MILLER, CLAUD
Initials: C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Army Service Corps
Age: 32
Date of Death: 04/05/1917
Additional information: Son of Mr. F. Norie-Miller, of Cleeve, Perth.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: SAVONA MEMORIAL

Details of the 'Transylvania'
http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=19107

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 3:04 pm Post subject:

A few other random 'look-ups'

Name: PARKINSON, PATRICIA MAY
Initials: P M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 26
Date of Death: 29/04/1941
Additional information: of 15 Llanbleddian Gardens, Cathays. Daughter of William and Lucie Parkinson. Died at 15 Llanbleddian Gardens.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: CARDIFF, COUNTY BOROUGH, WALES

Name: DE PODESTA, RUPERT VICTOR
Initials: R V
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Age: 21
Date of Death: 16/07/1942
Service No: 749349
Additional information: Son of Joseph Clarence and Clara Helena de Podesta, of West Bridgford, Nottingham.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sec. G.23. Grave 40.
Cemetery: NOTTINGHAM SOUTHERN CEMETERY

Name: EVERS-SWINDELL, FREDERICK HORNBY
Initials: F H
Nationality: New Zealand
Rank: Flying Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal New Zealand Air Force
Unit Text: 20 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
Age: 24
Date of Death: 06/09/1943
Service No: 413906
Additional information: Son of Arthur Evers-Swindell and of Felicia Evers-Swindell (nee Heaton), of Havelock North, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 9. J. 8.
Cemetery: KIRKEE WAR CEMETERY

Name: HOLLAND, LESLIE URBAN
Initials: L U
Nationality: Australian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry
Unit Text: A.I.F. 2/18 Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 06/07/1945
Service No: NX26562
Additional information: Son of Ambrose Joseph and Elizabeth Margaret Holland, of Chatswood, New South Wales.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 10.
Memorial: LABUAN MEMORIAL

Name: LOWTHER, RONALD BURCHALL
Initials: R B
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Regiment of Canada, R.C.I.C.
Age: 34
Date of Death: 16/07/1944
Service No: B/63578
Additional information: Son of John Stewart and Amelia Lowther, of Toronto, Ontario.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XIII. E. 6.
Cemetery: BENY-SUR-MER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, REVIERS

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 11:58 am Post subject:

Mark

I'm glad you've photographed this one. I saw them last year in the background on the TV when there were some redundancies announced at GA.

This is a very interesting set of memorials for anyone to investigate.

Regards

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 3:37 pm Post subject:

There are some details on those listed on the First World War memorials above on the Aviva website:

http://www.aviva.com/about-us/heritage/world-war-one/roll-of-honour/

General Accident merged with Norwich Union and rebranded to Aviva.

The large memorial flanked by the rifles and helmets is for the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Ltd.

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:01 am Post subject:

It's not a great photo but this is the old GA building in Perth where these plaques would have been originally.

dalblair · Joined: 26 Aug 2010 Posts: 564 Location: coupar angus

Unveiled by Major General Sir John Hanbury Williams on 15th March 1922

Adam Brown · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 12:20 pm Post subject:

See also General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Ltd. Roll of Honour:

http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=6666

Adam

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

All except the last one have now been entered on the WMR (the final one is too plastered with photobucket logos to work with).They are WMR 82072 to 82074 & 82083 to 82085