CII and Insurance Museum reflect on war effort

According to the Insurance Museum’s History Ambassador, Grace Maxted, at least half of male insurance workers and around a third of women working in the profession ahead of the outbreak of fighting in 1939 joined the war effort.

The Insurance Museum’s History Ambassador notes that being an insurance professional was a well-respected occupation, and so those called to service were likely to become commissioned officers in the armed forces.

As rules stated captured commissioned officers could not be put to work in prisoner of war camps, male insurance professionals who found themselves caught by the axis powers decided to look for ways to progress their careers.

Captured men approached the Chartered Insurance Institute to continue their studies via correspondence courses and on three occasions during the Second World War, CII examinations were conducted within prison camps.

Sian Fisher, CEO of the Chartered Insurance Institute, said: “Friday marks 75 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe and is an opportunity to reflect on the enormous sacrifice, courage and determination of people from all walks of life – including those who worked in the insurance profession - during World War II.

“Understanding history is vital if we are to build a brighter future and show our respect for those who fought for us.

“As the insurance professionals who used their time in wartime prison camps to continue to develop their knowledge for when peacetime came again knew, we all must be ready to improve ourselves and the world around us for future generations.”

To find out more the history of the insurance profession visit: www.insurancemuseum.uk.