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

William, 5th Viscount Howe

William, 5th Viscount Howe

A professional soldier who served with distinction in America, at both the siege of Louisburg and the capture of Quebec in 1759. He was Commander-in-Chief of the British Army during the first part ...

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration, USA

1 memorial
11th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment

11th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment

The battalion was formed in Lewisham and fought in France and Italy. It was disbanded at the end of the war. The Royal West Kent Regiment had been in existence since 1881. In 1961 it was amalgamate...

Group, Armed Forces, France, Italy

1 memorial
Serjeant Adam Cubie Brand

Serjeant Adam Cubie Brand

Adam Cubie Brand was born on 18 March 1909 and was married to his wife Daisy Anne Brand (b.18 February 1914). U.K. Postal Appointment Books lists him twice as a sorter in the London Postal Service...

Person, Armed Forces, Poland

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry

Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry

Soldier. Born Dublin. 1843 became Colonel of the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards which, as part of the Household Cavalry, was based at Knightsbrige Barracks, now Hyde Park Barracks. Which explains why ...

Person, Armed Forces, Ireland

1 memorial
Sir Ralph Turner

Sir Ralph Turner

Professor of Indian languages. Born Charlton, London. Officer in the 3rd Gurkha Rifles. Won Military Cross in Palestine. Died at home, Bishop's Stortford.

Person, Armed Forces, Education, India, Nepal, Pakistan

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Department for Communities and Local Government

Department for Communities and Local Government

A department of the government of the UK. From Victoria Cross commemorative paving stones: "In August 2013, the UK government announced a campaign to honour Victoria Cross recipients from the First...

Group, Politics & Administration

67 memorials
Sir Joshua Reynolds bust

Sir Joshua Reynolds bust

WC2, Leicester Square

All four of the Leicester Square busts were removed in the 2010-12 redesign, and we don't know where they went.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Silver Jubilee - Montague Close

Silver Jubilee - Montague Close

SE1, Montague Close

2021: The granite stones remain but all these plaques are gone.

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Sir Joshua Reynolds - Great Newport Street - lost

Sir Joshua Reynolds - Great Newport Street - lost

WC2, Great Newport Street, 5, The Photographers Gallery

April 2016: Our colleague Alan Patient reports that this plaque is now lost, or, at the very least hidden, behind the large "White Space...

1 subject commemorated
Great Storm - Victoria Park

Great Storm - Victoria Park

E9, Victoria Park, Crown Gate West

We originally photographed this plaque in 2010. Returning in 2016, we found that the empty small white plinth to the right of the tree wa...

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators