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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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.

Read More

Abbey Road Depot - WW2 ARP members lost

Bill Wallis is described on the plaque as 'ARP Stretcher Bearer'. Which we ta...

Read More

Abney Park - CWGC war memorial

The screen wall at the back, south, of the memorial carries a number of bronz...

Read More

Adam Faith

Adam Faith (Terry Nelhams), 1940 - 2003, singer & actor born in a house o...

Read More

African and Caribbean Armed Forces

Unveiled on Windrush Day. A very simple design, we think the horizontal obeli...

Read More

Load next 200 of 380

Other Subjects

John Elisha Grimshaw, VC

John Elisha Grimshaw, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 25 April 1915, age 22, while serving in the Lancashire Fusiliers. "One of the six VCs awarded before breakfast on 25 4 1915. Selected by his comrades as one of the...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
W. C. S. Hearn

W. C. S. Hearn

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
J. S. Greig

J. S. Greig

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
John Desmond Bernal, MA, FRS.

John Desmond Bernal, MA, FRS.

Crystallographer. John Desmond Bernal was born on 10 May 1901 in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland, the eldest of the five children of Samuel George Bernal (1864-1919) and Elizabeth Bernal née Mil...

Person, Armed Forces, Emergency Services, Science, Ireland

1 memorial
L. G. Davis

L. G. Davis

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial

Previously viewed

UK Centre for Carnival Arts

UK Centre for Carnival Arts

An organisation based in Luton and dedicated to carnival arts.

Group, Community / Clubs

3 memorials
Surrey Theatre

Surrey Theatre

Opened initially as the 'Royal Circus and Equestrian Philharmonic Academy'. Burnt down in 1799 and in 1805. Rebuilt in 1806 by architect Rudolphe Cabanel (who went on to design what is now the Old ...

Building, Theatre

1 memorial
Edmund Burke

Edmund Burke

Economist, philosopher, author and statesman. Born in Dublin. MP 1766-94 with the Whig Party.

Person, Philosophy, Politics & Administration, Ireland

3 memorials
London Fire Brigade

London Fire Brigade

The London Fire Engine Establishment, formed in 1833 under the leadership of James Braidwood, was a private organisation funded by insurance companies, mainly aimed at saving material goods from fi...

Group, Emergency Services

13 memorials
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

In 1923 Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (descended from the Royal House of Scotland) married Prince Albert, Duke of York, the man who would become George VI when his elder brother Edward VIII abdicated. ...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous

36 memorials