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

P. C. Donovan

P. C. Donovan

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
H. Smith

H. Smith

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Rifleman Frederick William Pozzi

Rifleman Frederick William Pozzi

Frederick William Pozzi was born on 5 June 1889 in Edmonton, Middlesex, (now Greater London) the youngest of the four children of Albert Pozzi (1858-1894) and Emma Pozzi née Webster (1859-1929). On...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
W. J. D. Townsend

W. J. D. Townsend

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
H. C. Bradley

H. C. Bradley

Employed at the Holloway tram garage. Served and was killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Sidney Herbert

Sidney Herbert

Son of the 11th Earl of Pembroke, grandson of Count Simon Woronzow.  Sidney's elder brother, Robert, was a bad 'un: absconded to live in Paris and failed to provide a legitimate heir so, although R...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Mrs Frye

Mrs Frye

Probably the wife of Frederick Frye. Andrew Behan researched this woman, first making a fair stab at which Mrs Frye she is: Firstly, we can discount Mrs Frye being the mother of Frederick Charlwo...

Person, Friend / family

1 memorial
Salt Office

Salt Office

British History Online explains "The salt tax, which was unknown in England until 1694, was enforced during the greater part of the eighteenth century. The tax was repealed in 1730, but was reimpos...

Group, Food & Drink, Politics & Administration

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
Free French Forces

Free French Forces

Formed, in concept at least, on 18 June 1940 in de Gaulle's 'Appeal of 18 June' speech.  Free French units operated as auxiliary forces to the British Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal...

Group, Armed Forces, France

5 memorials