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

Aircraftman 2nd Class John Pryor

Aircraftman 2nd Class John Pryor

John Pryor was the elder child of John Richard Henry Pryor (1901-1984) and Elizabeth Lydia Pryor née Thomason (1899-2006). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1926 in the Islington regis...

Person, Armed Forces, Ireland

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
John Joseph Sims, VC

John Joseph Sims, VC

Soldier. A private in the 34th Regiment of Foot. On 18th June 1855 in Sebastopol, he went out under heavy fire in broad daylight and brought in wounded soldiers from outside the trenches. For his a...

Person, Armed Forces, Crimea

War served, Other war
1 memorial
Able Seaman Charles William Bushnell

Able Seaman Charles William Bushnell

Charles William Bushnell was born on 17 October 1901, his birth being registered in the 4th quarter of 1901 in the Lewisham registration district. He was baptised on 23 October 1901 at St Mary's Ch...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
W. H. White

W. H. White

Employed at the Holloway tram garage. Served and was killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
T. Slater

T. Slater

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

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Poplar Borough Council

Poplar Borough Council

In 1855, Poplar joined with neighbouring Bromley and Bow to form the Poplar District of the Metropolis. This became the Metropolitan Borough of Poplar in 1900. In 1965 it merged with the Metropolit...

Group, Politics & Administration

3 memorials
SHAEF, Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, WW2

SHAEF, Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, WW2

Much of the planning for D-Day was carried out at Norfolk House. Eisenhower arrived there in January 1944 to take on the role of Supreme Allied Commander.  c.April 1944 SHAEF moved out to Camp Grif...

Group, Armed Forces

5 memorials
Great Fire of London

Great Fire of London

Started on a Sunday morning. After 4 days the destruction included: - an area of one and a half miles by a half mile - 87 churches - 13,200 houses - only 6 people are recorded as having died (but ...

Event, Tragedy

55 memorials
Henry Weekes

Henry Weekes

Sculptor.  Born Canterbury.

Person, Sculpture

5 memorials
Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II

Born 17 Bruton Street, to the Duke and Duchess of York. For information on where she was brought up see Byron Statue. When she was 10 her father became King George VI (on the abdication of his brot...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous

124 memorials