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

Staff Sergeant Roberts

Staff Sergeant Roberts

Royal Engineer killed by an exploding bomb while assisting in the attempt to disarm it. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man: Staff Serjeant Charles Roberts was born on 25...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy, Scotland

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
O. G. Joslin

O. G. Joslin

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Richard McFadden

Richard McFadden

Footballer and soldier. Born in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire. He started his football career in the Northern League with Blyth in 1910, moving to Wallsend Park Villa. In May 1911, he joined Clapton Orie...

Person, Armed Forces, Sport / Games, France, Scotland

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Belgian Volunteers - WW2

Belgian Volunteers - WW2

On July 27th, 1942, a Belgian Troop (N° 4) was created within the 10th (Inter-Allied) Commando in Great Britain. They fought in Algeria, Italy and Yugoslavia.

Group, Armed Forces, Africa, Belgium, Italy, Yugoslavia

1 memorial
Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force

Formed 1st April 1918 at Hotel Cecil, 80 the Strand where it had its first headquarters. Motto: Per Ardua Ad Astra, Latin for "Through Struggles to the Stars".

Group, Armed Forces, Aviation

8 memorials

Previously viewed

Paddington Waterways and Maida Vale Society

Paddington Waterways and Maida Vale Society

Conservation Society. Founded by Colonel Peter Flower and Lord Norwich.It has successfully opposed several unsympathetic building schemes in the area.

Group, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
Lord Denman

Lord Denman

Thomas Denman was born on 23 February 1779 in London, the eldest son of Dr Thomas Denman (1733-1815) and Elizabeth Denman née Brodie (1746-1833). His life is described in his Wikipedia page which ...

Person, Law

1 memorial
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
Stocks Market

Stocks Market

EC4, Mansion House Street, Mansion House

Adjoining this spot stood the Stocks Market, 1282 - 1737. Corporation of the City of London

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Avanti

Avanti

Architects. Projects include the restoration of the Natural History Museum facade, Liverpool Street Station concourse and the Isokon Building.

Group, Architecture

1 memorial