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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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.

Read More

Abbey Road Depot - WW2 ARP members lost

Bill Wallis is described on the plaque as 'ARP Stretcher Bearer'. Which we ta...

Read More

Abney Park - CWGC war memorial

The screen wall at the back, south, of the memorial carries a number of bronz...

Read More

Adam Faith

Adam Faith (Terry Nelhams), 1940 - 2003, singer & actor born in a house o...

Read More

African and Caribbean Armed Forces

Unveiled on Windrush Day. A very simple design, we think the horizontal obeli...

Read More

Load next 200 of 376

Other Subjects

Private Albert Edwin Bowles

Private Albert Edwin Bowles

Albert Edwin Bowles was born in 1898 in Catford, London, one of at least seven children of David Inskipp Bowles (1865-1933) and Amelia Bowles née Robeson (1865-1964). His birth was registered in th...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
G. D. Lague

G. D. Lague

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
William Jonas

William Jonas

Footballer and soldier. Born in Blyth, Northumberland. He started his football career with Jarrow Croft and joined Clapton Orient in June 1912. At the outbreak of WW1 he enlisted with the 17th Midd...

Person, Armed Forces, Sport / Games, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Frank Stubbs

Frank Stubbs

Soldier. Born Frank Edward Stubbs in Walworth. He served in India before WW1. On 25th April 1915 he was with the 1st Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers attempting to make a landing on the Gallip...

Person, Armed Forces, India, Turkey

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
A. Allsop

A. Allsop

Employed at the Holloway bus/tram garage - Pemberton Gardens. Served and was killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

River Effra

River Effra

At the Brockwell Lido plaque there is an information board which begins by explaining the function of stink pipes: "What is a stink pipe? The lofty green pipe behind you is a Victorian stink pipe, ...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture

17 memorials
Victoria Coach Station

Victoria Coach Station

Art Deco style purpose-built coach station, the largest in Britain.  Opened  by London Coastal Coaches, an association of coach operators. Architects were Wallis, Gilbert and Partners. Ian Visits g...

Building, Transport

1 memorial
Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci

Scientist, artist, etc. - a polymath, the first "renaissance man". Born in Vinci, Italy (No? Really?). Died in France.

Person, Art, Science, Seriously Famous, Italy

3 memorials
Westminster Bridge

Westminster Bridge

Built 1739–50 by Swiss bridge engineer Charles Labelye. Until this was opened there was no bridge between Putney Bridge (1729) and London Bridge. Replaced with the current bridge opened on 24 May 1...

Building, Transport

2 memorials
Meard Street

Meard Street

W1, Meard Street

2022: We were contacted by David Bieda who wrote: "Meard Street plaque. I’d like a credit as I wrote all that you have used including the...

16 subjects commemorated, 3 creators