Event    From 1939  To 1945

World War 2

Categories: Armed Forces, Tragedy

Sorry, we've done no research on WW2, it's just too big a subject. But do visit the picture source web site - it has a fascinating collection of maps. And we enjoyed these photos of current WW2 evidence in London. Also for some signs of WW2 on buildings in London see Spitalfields Life.

February 2015: Londonist did something we’ve been meaning to do for ages: they’ve brought together all the various heads of state and governments-in-exile that found a home in London during WW2.  We’ve shamelessly taken that splendid research and linked it to the associated memorials that we’ve found.

The Free French wartime headquarters were at 1 Dorset Square and at Carlton Gardens where there are two  plaques and a statue.  De Gaulle lived in Hampstead.

The Netherlands’ head of state, Queen Wilhelmina, lived at Claridge’s and had her Secretariat at 77 Chester Square where there is a plaque.  The Dutch government initially met in the Dutch Reformed Church at 7 Austin Friars but this was destroyed by bombs in 1940 which may be what prompted them to move to Stratton House, 79 Piccadilly. And the Dutch club was at Oranjehaven.

The Polish Prime Minister Sikorski based himself in the Polish embassy at 47 Portland Place. The Polish President Raczkiewicz lived at 43 Eaton Place and ran his government in exile from here.

Belgium’s government-in-exile was based at the Belgian embassy at 105 Eaton Square.

The President of Czechoslovakia, Edvard Beneš, lived at 26 Gwendolen Avenue Putney.  The Czech government in exile was run from 3-8 Porchester Gate, Bayswater Road.

King Haakon of Norway officially lived at the Norwegian embassy at 10 Palace Green W8 where there is a plaque (not at 10 Kensington Palace Gardens) but often stayed at Claridges.  Prime Minister Nygaardsvold ran his government-in-exile from Kingston House North on Prince’s Gate.

King Peter II of Yugoslavia lived at Claridges.  His government in exile was run from Kingston House, the same address as the Norwegian government.

Luxembourg based its government in exile at 27 Wilton Crescent.

King George II of Greece lived at Claridges.

We believe these were also based in London but we need more information: Denmark’s government; King Zog of Albania; Emperor Haile Selassie of Abyssinia.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
World War 2

Commemorated ati

11 Group Operations Room

Unveiled by Lord Dowding.

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Abbey Road Depot - WW2 ARP members lost

Bill Wallis is described on the plaque as 'ARP Stretcher Bearer'. Which we ta...

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Abney Park - CWGC war memorial

The screen wall at the back, south, of the memorial carries a number of bronz...

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Adam Faith

Adam Faith (Terry Nelhams), 1940 - 2003, singer & actor born in a house o...

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African and Caribbean Armed Forces

Unveiled on Windrush Day. A very simple design, we think the horizontal obeli...

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Other Subjects

F. W. Holiday

F. W. Holiday

Employed at the Holloway tram garage. Served and was killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
H. G. Brice

H. G. Brice

Employed at the Holloway bus/tram garage - Pemberton Gardens. Served and was killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
H.M.S. Victory VI

H.M.S. Victory VI

During WW1 Crystal Palace was used as a training establishment for the Royal Navy. It was officially known as H.M.S. Victory VI, and informally as HMS Crystal Palace. 125,000 officers and men were ...

Place, Armed Forces, Education

1 memorial
Berlin Airlift

Berlin Airlift

After WW2 Berlin was divided into 4 sectors, controlled by Britain, France, the USA and the Soviet Union respectively.  Berlin was inside East Germany which was also controlled by the Soviets.  Thi...

Event, Armed Forces, Germany

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Oldest building in Cheapside - lost plaque, and building

Oldest building in Cheapside - lost plaque, and building

EC2, Cheapside

We spotted this photo of a plaque on the ever-fruitful Spitalfields Life. That page suggests that the photo probably dates from the 1920s...

2 subjects commemorated
Prince of Wales WW2 bomb - lost

Prince of Wales WW2 bomb - lost

SW9, Clapham Road, 294

Our image comes from Paradise Memorial Garden. SarfLondonDunc informs that the plaque's absence was noticed  by someone on 18 Nov 2009, ...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Teddington Studios - John Sullivan

Teddington Studios - John Sullivan

TW11, Broom Road, Teddington Studios

We can't find the link from the QR code. The Sun reported the plaque's unveiling.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Percy Shelley - SE1 - blue

Percy Shelley - SE1 - blue

SE1, Nelson Square, 26, Applegarth House

British History Online: "In 1932 the London County Council erected a memorial tablet on No. 26, Nelson Square." Nice though the Historic...

1 subject commemorated
Private R. W. MacKnish
War dead, WW1
1 memorial