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. L. Davison

J. L. Davison

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Lieutenant Frederick Reginald Hart, MC

Lieutenant Frederick Reginald Hart, MC

Frederick Reginald Hart was born on 17 January 1894 in Marylebone, the second of the three children of Frederick Hart (1867-1947) and Lizzie Maria Hart née Sapseid (1867-1956). His birth was regist...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Alf. Pickwick

Alf. Pickwick

Resident of the West Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Sidney A. Ellacott

Sidney A. Ellacott

Resident of the Central Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

London Cemetery Company

London Cemetery Company

The Company was founded by architect and civil engineer Stephen Geary. who designed and planned Highgate Cemetery. It was later taken over by the United Cemetery Company.

Group, Commerce

1 memorial
Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse

Singer and songwriter. Born Amy Jade Winehouse in Southgate, she began writing music in her teens, and became a singer with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in 2000. Her debut album 'Frank', was r...

Person, Music / songs, Seriously Famous, Tragedy

1 memorial
Citroën House - Ford

Citroën House - Ford

W6, Shepherd's Bush Road, 184

This is the only London work that we can identify by Heathcote, a Manchester architect. e-Architect describes, with photos, Its recent re...

4 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Covent Garden Market

Covent Garden Market

The piazza, created in 1630 by Inigo Jones for Francis the 4th Earl of Bedford, attracted stalls and hawkers so in 1670 the 5th Earl decided to formalise and profit from the situation and obtained ...

Place, Commerce

2 memorials
Police Station, Upper Street, Islington

Police Station, Upper Street, Islington

Police Station at 277 Upper Street, Islington, N1.The picture source website also has a photograph of this very lamp being fixed to the Upper Street building in 1938.

Place, Armed Forces, Law

1 memorial