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

R. C. Essery

R. C. Essery

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
W. A. Harris

W. A. Harris

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Rainbow Corner

Rainbow Corner

Club for the American forces in the UK during WW2. Also known as the American Red Cross Club. This is where those "oversexed, overpaid and over here" GIs hung out. From British History online: The...

Building, Armed Forces, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
A. Chamberlain

A. Chamberlain

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Col. Humphrey Mackworth

Col. Humphrey Mackworth

Appointed governor of Shrewsbury in 1645 and was a colonel in Cromwell's Parliamentary army. Died in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey. When Charles II was restored to the throne he order...

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Haggerston Road School

Haggerston Road School

We can find very little about this school, it's all just hints and pointers. AIM25's holdings for All Saints Church include some records about the parish school, presumably this one.  The earlies...

Building, Education

2 memorials
International Students House

International Students House

ISH began life in 1917 as Student Movement House, a social centre opened at 32 Russell Square in memory of students who died in WW1. 1932 - 46 the warden of Student Movement House was Mary Trevelya...

Group, Community / Clubs, Education

1 memorial
Nipper

Nipper

Born Bristol (and/or found as a stray, sources differ).  Mixed breed with a reputation for nipping visitor's legs, hence the name. His owner, Mark Barraud (1848-1887) worked as a scenery designer i...

Animal, Animals, Music / songs

3 memorials
Councillor Mrs Terence Mallinson

Councillor Mrs Terence Mallinson

Councillor of Westminster City Council.  Lord Mayor of Westminster 1986-1987. It seems strange that a Councillor would chose to use her husband's name when carrying out official duties, in the 80s...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Lionel Tertis

Lionel Tertis

Virtuoso violist. Born in West Hartlepool. Initially he studied the violin in Leipzig and at the Royal Academy of Music, London. He was encouraged to take up the viola instead, and rapidly became o...

Person, Music / songs, Germany

2 memorials