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

Private Albert Edwin Bowles

Private Albert Edwin Bowles

Albert Edwin Bowles was born in 1898 in Catford, London, one of at least seven children of David Inskipp Bowles (1865-1933) and Amelia Bowles née Robeson (1865-1964). His birth was registered in th...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
J. Giles

J. Giles

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Douglas Walter Belcher, VC

Douglas Walter Belcher, VC

Soldier. Born Douglas Walter Belcher in Surbiton. He enlisted at the beginning of WW1 and fought at the second Battle of Ypres. Whilst in charge of a portion of breastwork (a temporary fortificatio...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War served, WW1
2 memorials
Lance Corporal Henry Robert Maynard

Lance Corporal Henry Robert Maynard

Henry Robert Maynard was born in 1886 in East Witton, Yorkshire, the eldest of the three children of Henry Robert Maynard (1852-1933) and Anne Matilda Maynard née Horne (1858-1925). His birth was r...

Person, Armed Forces, Syria

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Stanley Carter

Stanley Carter

Local politician. Born Bradford. Graduated from Ruskin College, Oxford. Served in the navy during WW2 and later worked in the newspaper industry for more than 20 years. First elected to Enfield Co...

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Fruiterers Hall & warehouses

Fruiterers Hall & warehouses

In 1754 the Fruiterers had warehouses at the “Three Cranes”, situated in a lane called Fruiterers’ Alley, running off Thames Street. The Company’s meeting place or hall at that time was the Fruiter...

Building, Property

1 memorial
Royal Doulton / Doulton Potteries

Royal Doulton / Doulton Potteries

Ceramic manufacturing company. Began with a factory at Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth. Initially a partnership of John Doulton, Martha Jones, and John Watts, Jones left in 1820 leaving the company name as ...

Group, Craft / Design, Industry

39 memorials
Military Hospital

Military Hospital

WC2, Endell Street, Dudley Court

Site of Endell Street Military Hospital, 1915 - 1919. Established in former workhouse buildings during the First World War under the comm...

4 subjects commemorated
Royal Hospital Chelsea

Royal Hospital Chelsea

A retirement and nursing home for British soldiers who are unfit for further duty due to injury or old age. They are popularly known as ‘Chelsea Pensioners’. Founded by King Charles II in 1682 and...

Building, Armed Forces, Gardens / Agriculture, Social Welfare

6 memorials