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.

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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

Richd. E. Moore

Richd. E. Moore

Resident of the Central Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Private Frank Mathews

Private Frank Mathews

There is some confusion over the spelling of the surname of this man. On some records it is Mathews and on other Matthews. He was born on 19 November 1884 in Chelsea, Middlesex (now Greater London)...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
T. C. Thornton

T. C. Thornton

Employed at the Streatham bus garage. Served and was killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
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
W. J. Goodwin
War dead, WW2
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Charing Cross Electricity Supply Company

Charing Cross Electricity Supply Company

This originated in 1882 from the power supply set up by Agostino and Stefano Gatti in the cellars of one of their restaurants. From Covent Garden: "... established in 1888 to provide lighting for ...

Group, Industry

2 memorials
John Cage

John Cage

Composer, music theorist, writer, and artist.  Leading member of the avant-garde and described himself as an anarchist.  Born Los Angeles. Wrote  4′33″.

Person, Music / songs, USA

1 memorial
Great Fire of London

Great Fire of London

Started on a Sunday morning. After 4 days the destruction included: - an area of one and a half miles by a half mile - 87 churches - 13,200 houses - only 6 people are recorded as having died (but ...

Event, Tragedy

55 memorials
Colombo Centre

Colombo Centre

Fitness centre in SE1.

Place, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
Bruce Denny

Bruce Denny

Sculptor. Born in Suffolk.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial