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

J. G. Dickens

J. G. Dickens

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Lieutenant Algernon Hyde Villiers, BA

Lieutenant Algernon Hyde Villiers, BA

Algernon Hyde Villiers was born on 1 February 1886 at 55, Cadogan Place, London, SW1, the youngest son of the five children of the Right Honourable Sir Francis Hyde Villiers, PC, CB, GCMG, GCVO (18...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Lieutenant John Henry Stephen Dimmer, VC

Lieutenant John Henry Stephen Dimmer, VC

John (Jack) John Henry Stephen Dimmer was born at 37 Gloster Street, South Lambeth. Following action at Klein Zillebeke, Belgium, Dimmer learned of his VC reading a British newspaper whilst recover...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
2 memorials
W. L. Lawrence

W. L. Lawrence

Member of the staff of A. W. Gamage Ltd and/or Benetfink & Co. Ltd. Killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
H. E. Cannard

H. E. Cannard

Employed at the Holloway bus/tram garage - Pemberton Gardens. Served and was killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

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Royal Doulton / Doulton Potteries

Royal Doulton / Doulton Potteries

Ceramic manufacturing company. Began with a factory at Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth. Initially a partnership of John Doulton, Martha Jones, and John Watts, Jones left in 1820 leaving the company name as ...

Group, Craft / Design, Industry

39 memorials
Southwark Park

Southwark Park

The Park was created mainly from market gardens. More information at  Historic England. The opening day is variously given as 19 or 9. An information board at each of the main entrances to the par...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture

2 memorials
Bermondsey Town Hall - remains

Bermondsey Town Hall - remains

SE16, Spa Road, Old Bermondsey Library / Kagyu Samye Dzong Buddhist centre

These piers and ironwork are in front of the Sainsbury's (opened 2014) to the right of the Library.

1 subject commemorated
Margaret Roper

Margaret Roper

Daughter of Sir Thomas More. After her executed father’s parboiled head had been displayed on a pike at London bridge for the required month, she bribed the keeper to give it to her. She pickled it...

Person, Friend / family

2 memorials