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

General John Burgoyne

General John Burgoyne

Army officer, politician and playwright. Born at Park Prospect, Westminster. He entered the army in 1740 and in the Seven Years War he captured Valencia de Alcantara. During the Saratoga Campaign i...

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration, Theatre, Canada, Ireland, Spain, USA

1 memorial
F. Richards

F. Richards

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Geo. Clarke

Geo. Clarke

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Flight Lieutenant Charles Cholmondeley

Flight Lieutenant Charles Cholmondeley

Cholmondeley and Ewen Montagu conceived the idea behind Operation Mincemeat and carried it out. He joined the Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve (RAFVR) in 1939 and was commissioned as a pilot offi...

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial
Admiral Sir Caspar John

Admiral Sir Caspar John

Born 18 Fitzroy Street. Pioneer in the fleet air arm. British first sea lord from 1960 -1963. Invested as Knight Grand Cross, Order of the Bath (G.C.B.) 1960. Died Hayle, Cornwall.

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Charity School - Hatton Garden

Charity School - Hatton Garden

Possibly designed by Wren.  Built by Lord Hatton following the loss of St Andrews church Holborn in the Great Fire.  In 1721 converted to house St Andrew's Parochial School.  It was given two entra...

Building, Children, Education

3 memorials
City Road Basin

City Road Basin

Part of the Regent's Canal. Built in 1820 to allow boats to moor and unload cargo, initially brought long distance but it soon became used primarily to transport local coal and building materials. ...

Place, Commerce, Transport

1 memorial
Essex Street & Essex Hall

Essex Street & Essex Hall

WC2, Essex Street, Essex Hall

This plaque was first erected at 7 Essex Street in 1962 and then re-erected here, at Essex Hall in 1964.

10 subjects commemorated