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

Serjeant George Grote

Serjeant George Grote

George Grote was born on 20 June 1888 in Whitechapel, Middlesex (now Greater London), the fourth of the eight children of Alexander Grote (1857-1896) and Ellen Grote née Fowler (1858-1900). His bir...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Captain Ralph Douglas Binney

Captain Ralph Douglas Binney

Hero. Born Berkshire. Royal Navy captain. Served in WW1 and WW2 and awarded CBE in 1943. This 'Have-a-go' hero single-handed attempted to stop 'smash-and-grab' thieves at a jeweller's shop in B...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

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
Wm. H. Pascoe

Wm. H. Pascoe

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Second Lieutenant Robert Gerald Aldin Wilson

Second Lieutenant Robert Gerald Aldin Wilson

Robert Gerald Aldin Wilson was born in 1889, the elder child of Robert Alexander Wilson (1856-1922) and Ellen Julia Wilson née Aldin (1867-1958). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1889...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

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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
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
Greenwich Meridian

Greenwich Meridian

A prime meridian. Established by Sir George Airy. By 1884, over two-thirds of all ships and tonnage used it as the reference meridian on their charts and maps. In October of that year, 41 delegates...

Place, Science, Transport

1 memorial
First Electric Telegraph

First Electric Telegraph

Telegraphic messages were first sent successfully by Sir Francis Ronalds using an eight mile long grid in his back garden in Hammersmith. He tried to interest the Admiralty in his invention, but th...

Event, Science

1 memorial
London County Council

London County Council

Prior to the LCC London matters were run by church parishes. The LCC was the first directly elected strategic local government body for London. Replaced by the Greater London Council, covering a la...

Group, Politics & Administration

281 memorials