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.

Read More

Abbey Road Depot - WW2 ARP members lost

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

Read More

Abney Park - CWGC war memorial

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

Read More

Adam Faith

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

Read More

African and Caribbean Armed Forces

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

Read More

Load next 200 of 355

Other Subjects

Hugo Vivian Hope Throssell, VC

Hugo Vivian Hope Throssell, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 29-30 August 1915, age 30, while serving in the 10th Light Horse Regiment, Australian Imperial Force. "Although severely wounded he refused to leave his post until...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Sir Keith Park

Sir Keith Park

Air Chief Marshal.  Born New Zealand.  Working in the NZ merchant navy when WW1 came along.  Volunteered first for the NZ navy but transferred and worked for a time in the British army.  On being w...

Person, Armed Forces, Argentina, New Zealand

1 memorial
15th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles)

15th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles)

1,240 members fell while serving with the regiment in the Great War. The battalion has served in several guises over the years including as the 21st Middlesex Rifle Volunteers (Civil Service Rifle...

Group, Armed Forces

3 memorials
F. Wilson
War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Lord John Fisher, Admiral

Lord John Fisher, Admiral

Born Ceylon. First Sea Lord: 1904 - 1910 and 1914 - 1915. Died at 19 St James's Square.

Person, Armed Forces, Ceylon

1 memorial