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

Flight Lieutenant Wayne Aloes Becker

Flight Lieutenant Wayne Aloes Becker

Wayne Aloes Becker was born on 15 November 1911 in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, USA, a son of Aloes Seymour Becker (1886-1960) and Etta V. Becker née Rutan (1896-1919). He graduated from Sprin...

Person, Armed Forces, USA

War served, WW2
1 memorial
R. A. J. King

R. A. J. King

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
H. Frew

H. Frew

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Robert Napier

Robert Napier

Indian army officer.  Born Ceylon, the son of an army officer.  Also served in China and Abyssinia.  Field Marshal and Constable of the Tower of London.  Died at home 63 Eaton Square. Not as far a...

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial
Rifleman Arthur Richard Kitchen

Rifleman Arthur Richard Kitchen

Arthur Richard Kitchen was born on 4 June 1896 in Paddington, London, the son of Arthur Richard Kitchen (1863-1949) and Eliza Kitchen whose birth was registered Mary Ann Eliza Laws but who was bapt...

Person, Armed Forces, Belgium

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Servicemen of Richmond

Servicemen of Richmond

Men from Richmond who gave their lives in WW1.

Group

1 memorial
Alfred Bestall

Alfred Bestall

Author and illustrator. Born Alfred Edmeades Bestall in Mandalay, Burma. He served in the army during WW1, transporting troops in red double-decker buses. Following his studies at the L.C.C. Centra...

Person, Art, Children, Literature, Burma, Wales

1 memorial
Atelier Works

Atelier Works

From their website: "We are an award-winning design agency, with over 30 years experience. We help clients develop their brands. We create all the visual elements which make up a brand." In collab...

Group, Art, Craft / Design

20 memorials
Urban Hall

Urban Hall

Prime Warden of the Fishmonger Company in 1716, 1717.  Lived in  Broad Street.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Central Ukrainian Relief Bureau

Central Ukrainian Relief Bureau

The headquarters were at 218 Sussex Gardens from September 1945 to the winter of 1948.

Group, Canada, Ukraine

1 memorial