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

Earl Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar

Earl Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar

British field marshal, served in India and the Boer War. Born India to an Irishman who was serving there at the time.  Considered himself Anglo-Irish even though he lived at Ascot.  1901 - 4 Comman...

Person, Armed Forces, France, India, Ireland

3 memorials
General Sir Nicholas Houghton

General Sir Nicholas Houghton

GCB CBE ADC Gen, Chief of the Defence Staff in 2014.

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial
A. Maziere

A. Maziere

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Marine Society

Marine Society

From the Marine Society: "Founded with the aim of providing men to fight in the King's ships as Britain faced war with most of Europe, The Marine Society was the world's first charity dedicated to ...

Group, Armed Forces, Community / Clubs, Transport

1 memorial
Lieutenant James

Lieutenant James

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: Lieutenant Richard James was born about 1900,...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy, Wales

War dead, WW2
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Holland House

Holland House

The house, built in 1605 for Sir Walter Cope, was originally surrounded by a large estate. By the time it was bought by Henry Fox, first Baron Holland, in 1768 it still extended westwards as far as...

Building, Property

2 memorials
Miss Marple

Miss Marple

Miss Jane Marple, village spinster detective, created by Agatha Christie.  Played by many actors, including: Gracie Fields, Margaret Rutherford, Angela Lansbury and Joan Hickson.

Fiction, Fictional

1 memorial
Langlands & Bell

Langlands & Bell

From their website: "Artists, Ben Langlands & Nikki Bell...began collaborating after they met at art school in London 1977. They are based in London...."

Group, Art

1 memorial
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
Ebenezer Church

Ebenezer Church

From Exploring Southwark: "The Norwegian Mission Society opened a mission in Rotherhithe in 1868, originally in a temporary church until a permanent building, called the Ebenezer Church, was opened...

Building, Property, Religion

1 memorial