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.

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

22nd Battalion (The Queens)

22nd Battalion (The Queens)

London unit which served in WW1.

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
Blackshirts
2 memorials
Auxiliary Fireman Christopher Edward Seymour Hartwell

Auxiliary Fireman Christopher Edward Seymour Hartwell

Auxiliary fireman from Banstead killed in an air raid on Poplar. Christopher Edward Seymour Hartwell was born on 21 July 1898 in Chapel Brampton, Northamptonshire, the son of Elizabeth Annie Hartw...

Person, Armed Forces, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Lieutenant John David Forster Williams

Lieutenant John David Forster Williams

John David Forster Williams was born on 13 January 1922, the son of Captain Montague Williams (b.circa 1889) and Nancy Gellatly Williams née Rogers (1897-1986). His birth was registered in the 1st ...

Person, Armed Forces, Italy, Wales

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent

John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent

Naval officer, administrator and trainer. Born Staffordshire.  Defeated the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797.  Recognised the potential of the young Nelson and brought him on....

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Lord Pitt of Hampstead

Lord Pitt of Hampstead

NW1, North Gower Street, 200

London Borough of Camden Lord Pitt of Hampstead, 1913 - 1994, physician and civil rights campaigner, worked here, 1950 - 84.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Sir John Dankworth

Sir John Dankworth

IG8, Hollywood Way, 16

A video of the unveiling refers to a previous plaque at this site, which contained spelling mistakes and called him Johnny, which he didn...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Malcolm Craddock

Malcolm Craddock

Television and film producer. Born Malcolm Gordon Craddock, London. Began making films while at university. Produced TV commercials for 14 years. Co-founder of Picture Palace, the television produc...

Person, Cinema, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Jacques Vernier

Jacques Vernier

French politician. 1983 -2014 mayor of Douai in northern France, which, in 1979, twinned with Harrow. 1984 -1993 Member of the European Parliament. 1993 - 1997 member of the National Assembly of Fr...

Person, Politics & Administration, France

1 memorial