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

Issy Smith, VC

Issy Smith, VC

Born Ishroulch Shmeilowitz (other spellings are available), to parents residing in Egypt, Smith travelled to Britain as a child stowaway, grew up in Manchester and first volunteered to serve in the...

Person, Armed Forces, Australia, Egypt

War served, WW1
2 memorials
Frederick, Duke of York

Frederick, Duke of York

Born St James's Palace, the second and favourite son of George III. Card gambler. Fought a duel on Wimbledon Common. Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, 1795 - 1809 and 1811 - 1827. Died, heavi...

Person, Armed Forces, Royalty

2 memorials
Royal Arsenal Riverside Guardrooms

Royal Arsenal Riverside Guardrooms

Originally the two guardrooms flanked a grand staircase, which was the riverside entrance to Woolwich Arsenal. One has been converted into a restaurant.

Place, Armed Forces

1 memorial
Wm. C. Moore

Wm. C. Moore

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Private Thomas John Casson

Private Thomas John Casson

Thomas John Casson was born circa 1886 in Lambeth, Surrey (now Greater London), the second of the seven children of James Casson (b.circa 1859) and Mary Sophia Casson née Young (circa 1866-1952). H...

Person, Armed Forces, Transport, Belgium, South Africa

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Stanley Howard Burton

Stanley Howard Burton

Stanley served in the RAF during WW2.  The Burtons were philanthropic and in Leeds there is a gallery and a theatre named "Stanley & Audrey Burton" so we think he may have married an Audrey.  W...

Person, Commerce

3 memorials
Kingston Spiritualist Church

Kingston Spiritualist Church

Our photo of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle officiating at the church's opening comes from a previous incarnation (appropriate expression?) of the Kingston Spiritualist Church website. Now, 2020, there is ...

Building, Religion

4 memorials
London Fire Brigade

London Fire Brigade

The London Fire Engine Establishment, formed in 1833 under the leadership of James Braidwood, was a private organisation funded by insurance companies, mainly aimed at saving material goods from fi...

Group, Emergency Services

13 memorials
India League

India League

August 2023, from Londonist: "The India Club — with its beloved restaurant that's been dishing up south Indian cuisine to Londoners for 70 years — is closing next month. ... The India Club was form...

Group, Politics & Administration, India

1 memorial
Free French Forces

Free French Forces

Formed, in concept at least, on 18 June 1940 in de Gaulle's 'Appeal of 18 June' speech.  Free French units operated as auxiliary forces to the British Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal...

Group, Armed Forces, France

5 memorials