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

Lieutenant James

Lieutenant James

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: Lieutenant Richard James was born about 1900,...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy, Wales

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Able Seaman William James Hopkins

Able Seaman William James Hopkins

William James Hopkins was born on 26 April 1905 in Stratford, Essex (now Greater London). He was a son of Edward Thomas Hopkins and Elizabeth Hopkins and his birth was registered in the 2nd quarter...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
A. Lewin

A. Lewin

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Sidney Murrell Portchmouth

Sidney Murrell Portchmouth

Sidney Murrell Portchmouth was born on 21 November 1892 in Buckland, Berkshire, the eighth of the nine children of William Charles Portchmouth (1858-1923) and Frances Jane Portchmouth, née Gee (185...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
H. Chambers

H. Chambers

Resident of Willesden who volunteered and died in the Anglo Boer War, 1899-1900.

Person, Armed Forces, South Africa

War dead, Other war
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Tudor House

Tudor House

There seems to be confusion between this building on St Leonard’s Street, demolished c.1900, and Bromley Hall, which is still extant on the Blackwall Tunnel Approach Road. The normally very trustwo...

Building, Property

1 memorial
London Wall (the road)

London Wall (the road)

Runs from Aldersgate Street to Old Broad Street and for most of that length it is a dual carriageway. Patrick Abercrombie's radical post-war plans for London included a number of ring roads,most of...

Place, Transport

1 memorial
London Arts Board

London Arts Board

One of ten regional arts boards which were eventually absorbed to become Arts Council England.

Group, Art

1 memorial
German Lutheran church in London

German Lutheran church in London

The history of the German Lutheran Church in London began in earnest  with many craftsmen from Hamburg coming here after the Great Fire of 1666 to help in the rebuilding. They were granted the site...

Group, Religion

2 memorials
Cooks' Hall

Cooks' Hall

Cooks' Hall was built circa 1500, escaped the Great Fire and was rebuilt and enlarged 1674. In 1764 a fire partially destroyed the Hall which was again rebuilt but it was totally destroyed by fire...

Building, Liveries & Guilds

2 memorials