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

V. E. D. Weir

V. E. D. Weir

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Second Lieutenant Healey James Armstrong Wiltshire

Second Lieutenant Healey James Armstrong Wiltshire

Healey James Armstrong Wiltshire was born on 3 February 1893, the second son of the six children of Henry Wiltshire (1838-1921) and his second wife, Barbara Ann Wiltshire née Armstrong (1860-1924)....

Person, Armed Forces, Israel/Palestine

War dead, WW1
2 memorials
T. Jones

T. Jones

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Spitfire aircraft

Spitfire aircraft

From our Picture source: "Produced in greater numbers than any other British combat aircraft before or since the War, 20,341 Spitfires were built in 22 different variants (excluding the navalised S...

Vehicle, Armed Forces, Aviation, Transport

5 memorials
H. W. F. Morris

H. W. F. Morris

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

Previously viewed

J. Rider Smith

J. Rider Smith

Represented the London Congregational Union Planning Committee in 1957. From the 1934 Chronicle of the London Missionary Society: "Director of the Society, and President of the Metropolitan Auxili...

Person, Politics & Administration, Religion

2 memorials
Lord Balmerino

Lord Balmerino

Jacobite.  Taken prisoner at the Battle of Culloden.  Tried and beheaded on the Tower Hill scaffold.

Person, Armed Forces, Execution, Scotland

1 memorial
Queen Henrietta Maria

Queen Henrietta Maria

Born at the Louvre Palace in Paris on 16 or 26 November, daughter of the King of France.  Married King Charles I on 13 June 1625 and the couple went on to have two sons who became King Charles II a...

Person, Royalty, France

2 memorials
Lee Rigby

Lee Rigby

Soldier. Born as Lee James McClure (he later took his stepfather's surname) in Crumpsall, Manchester. He joined the army in 2006, and was selected to be a member of the Corps of Drums, serving in C...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

3 memorials