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

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Archibald Davis Dawnay

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Archibald Davis Dawnay

Born Archibald Davis Dawnay. Mayor of Wandsworth 1908 - his death in 1919. We can find nothing about the man but here's some information about his company, from the magnificent Grace's Guide, in 19...

Person, Armed Forces, Industry, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Rupert Price Hallowes, VC

Rupert Price Hallowes, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 25-30 September 1915, aged 34, while serving in the Duke of Cambridge’s Own, (Middlesex Regiment). "Displayed the greatest bravery and untiring energy, setting a m...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
L. S. Wise

L. S. Wise

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Trooper Simon Andrew Tipper

Trooper Simon Andrew Tipper

Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this soldier: Born Kidderminster, Worcestershire. In June 1982 he married Louise Croxson in Wandsworth. He died at the scene of the Hyde Park bo...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

1 memorial
Sapper McLaren

Sapper McLaren

Royal Engineer killed by an exploding bomb while assisting in the attempt to disarm it. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man: Sapper Edward McLaren was born about 1918 in ...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy, Scotland

War dead, WW2
1 memorial

Previously viewed

John Logie Baird NW9 - Plaque

John Logie Baird NW9 - Plaque

NW9, Kingsbury Road, Roe Green Park

Our picture of the plaque is taken from the NW9 section of the excellent and informative 'Walking London One Postcode at a Time' website,...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Borough of Hampstead

Borough of Hampstead

A Metropolitan borough of the County of London. It was amalgamated with the Metropolitan Boroughs of St Pancras and Holborn to form the London Borough of Camden.

Group, Politics & Administration

3 memorials
Gordon Home

Gordon Home

Author, historian and artist. Gordon Cochrane Home. From London SE1: "...writer and artist who produced many pen and ink sketches of cathedrals, including Southwark, for A & C Black, J M Dent ...

Person, Art, History

1 memorial
W. G. Grace

W. G. Grace

Cricketer and medical practitioner. Born William Gilbert Grace at Clematis House, Downend, Mangotsfield, near Bristol. He started playing first-class cricket for Gloucestershire in 1864. Took his m...

Person, Medicine, Sport / Games, Canada, USA

4 memorials
D. A. Jameson

D. A. Jameson

Worked at the Stock Exchange and died in WW2.

Person

War dead, WW2
1 memorial