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

Major General Orde Wingate

Major General Orde Wingate

British army officer.  Born in India to a military family.  One of the founders of modern guerrilla warfare, he specialised in creating military units which used these tactics, the best known such ...

Person, Armed Forces, Africa, Burma, India, Israel/Palestine

2 memorials
Private William George Field

Private William George Field

William George Field was born c.1884 the son of George and Mary Field, his birth being registered in the 1st quarter of 1884 in the Camberwell Registration District, Surrey (now Greater London). He...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
A. Clegg

A. Clegg

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
E. B. Waterhouse

E. B. Waterhouse

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
National Fire Service / NFS

National Fire Service / NFS

Nationwide fire service created during WW2 from the amalgamation of the wartime Auxiliary Fire Service and the many local authority fire brigades.  After the war it was split into brigades again un...

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial

Previously viewed

International Brigade Memorial Trust

International Brigade Memorial Trust

From the picture source website: The International Brigade Memorial Trust was formed in 2002 from the veterans of the International Brigade Association, the Friends of the I.B.A., representatives ...

Group, Education, History

1 memorial
President Hotel

President Hotel

2018: The Imperial Hotel Group includes: London City centre Hotel, County Hotel, President Hotel, Tavistock Hotel, Bedford Hotel, Imperial Hotel.

Group, Commerce, Food & Drink

1 memorial
Greenwich Market

Greenwich Market

SE10, College Approach, Greenwich Market

{Beneath the coat of arms of Greenwich Hospital:} Greenwich Market. In 1700 Greenwich Hospital received from Henry, Earl of Romney the ri...

3 subjects commemorated
Pool of London Partnership

Pool of London Partnership

From City of London : The Pool of London Partnership was established in 1996 and operated in an area stretching East from London Bridge to the Butler's Wharf / St. Katherine's Dock area and include...

Group, Commerce, History, Politics & Administration

9 memorials
Folgate Street houses

Folgate Street houses

E1, Folgate Street , 12 - 14

Folgate Street was known as White Lion Street until 1938.  On the south side of the street number 10, two houses to the left (east) of 12...

1 subject commemorated