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

Augustus Pitt-Rivers

Augustus Pitt-Rivers

Army officer, anthropologist and archaeologist. Born as Augustus Henry Lane Fox at Hope Hall, Bramham, Yorkshire. He changed his name to Pitt-Rivers on inheriting the estates of his cousin Horace P...

Person, Armed Forces, Other

1 memorial
6th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (City of London Rifles)

6th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (City of London Rifles)

A London unit founded in 1860 and whose lineage ended after various amalgamations in 1961. Their Wikipedia page describes the Battalion's history.

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
J. W. Martin

J. W. Martin

7th Buffs. Fought but did not die in WW1

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Graham Thomson Lyall, VC

Graham Thomson Lyall, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 27 September 1918, age 26, while serving in the 102nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. "Through two days of operations he captured 185 prisoners and 27 gun...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
C. E. Cross

C. E. Cross

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

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Evacuation of Namsos

Evacuation of Namsos

The Namsos Campaign in Norway, was fought between Anglo-French/Norwegian forces, and German forces. After heavy fighting, the German forces took the upper hand, and the decision was made to evacuat...

Event, Armed Forces, Norway

1 memorial
William Blake

William Blake

Poet and artist. Except for 3 years spent on the coast near Bognor, Blake lived his whole life in London, making his living as an engraver. Born at 28 Broad Street, now Broadwick Street (the memori...

Person, Art, Poetry, Seriously Famous

10 memorials
George Skanderbeg

George Skanderbeg

Albanian national hero. Born George Kastrioti (or Castriota) Skanderbeg and also known as Iskander Bey. The son of a prince of Emathia (Modern day Macedonia). At the age of seven, he was kidnapped ...

Person, Nationalism, Politics & Administration, Balkans

1 memorial
Hearts of Oak Benefit Society

Hearts of Oak Benefit Society

National Archives gives: "It was on 20th June 1842 that twelve members of a Provident Society met at the Bird-in-Hand Tavern, 17 Long Acre, with the intention of establishing their own Society. Thi...

Group, Social Welfare

2 memorials
Elizabeth Colecott
War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial