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

G. R. Sims

G. R. Sims

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Samuel Lloyd Howard, DL, JP

Samuel Lloyd Howard, DL, JP

1883, Trustee of Lopping Hall, Loughton. Born Tottenham. Died Menton, France. From "Photographic pedigree of the descendants of Isaac and Rachel Wilson" (1912) via Flickr: "Samuel Lloyd Howard, of...

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration, France

1 memorial
William Jonas

William Jonas

Footballer and soldier. Born in Blyth, Northumberland. He started his football career with Jarrow Croft and joined Clapton Orient in June 1912. At the outbreak of WW1 he enlisted with the 17th Midd...

Person, Armed Forces, Sport / Games, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Private Richard Cripps

Private Richard Cripps

Richard Cripps was born in Hull, Yorkshire, a younger son of John Cripps (b. circa 1851) and Isabella Cripps (1844-1899). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1882 in the Sculcoates regis...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Master-at-Arms John George Gale

Master-at-Arms John George Gale

John George Gale was born on 7 March 1873 in Lifton, Devonshire (now called Devon) a son of George and Susannah Gale. His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1873 in the Tavistock Registrati...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

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Westminster City Council

Westminster City Council

The ancient parish of St Margaret's was divided into St Margaret's and St John's in 1727 but it was still run as a single vestry. In 1855 the two parishes were reformed into the Westminster Distric...

Group, Politics & Administration

184 memorials
Business Design Centre

Business Design Centre

An exhibition venue and conference centre with showrooms and offices, in Upper Street Islington. The Business Design Centre is a Grade II listed building, which was originally opened, on Liverpool...

Group, Commerce, Craft / Design

1 memorial
Friends of Burgess Park

Friends of Burgess Park

The Friends of Burgess Park are an association of people and other interested groups who are concerned to protect, promote and enhance an important, inner-city London park.

Group, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture

4 memorials
English Heritage

English Heritage

English Heritage (officially the English Heritage Trust) is a charity that manages over 400 historic monuments, buildings and places. These include prehistoric sites, medieval castles, Roman forts,...

Group, Architecture, History, Property

421 memorials