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

Gunner Frederick George Gatward

Gunner Frederick George Gatward

Frederick George Gatward was born on 20 March 1890 in Bromley-by-Bow, London, the eldest of the eight children of George Frederick Gatward (1868-1922) and Sarah Gatward née Impey (1872-1943). His b...

Person, Armed Forces, Transport, France

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
Admiral John Benbow

Admiral John Benbow

Admiral.   Born Shropshire.  Whilst in the West Indies fighting the French, Benbow was in charge of a fleet of seven ships.   During the fight, which lasted a few days, he sustained a broken leg fr...

Person, Armed Forces, Jamaica

1 memorial
D. J. Watts

D. J. Watts

Resident of Willesden who volunteered and died in the Anglo Boer War, 1899-1900.

Person, Armed Forces, South Africa

War dead, Other war
1 memorial
Frederick William Owen Potts, VC

Frederick William Owen Potts, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 21 August 1915, age 22, while serving in the Berkshire Yeomanry. "Wounded and under heavy fire he remained with a severely injured soldier for 48 hours before drag...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Transport Trust

Transport Trust

The Transport Trust is a charitable institution that aims to increase and channel support for transport preservation, acting as the hub of the transport preservation movement. More about their pla...

Group, History, Transport

6 memorials
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
Rugby Estate

Rugby Estate

WC1, Rugby Street

Unveiled by A. N. Wilson, an historian educated at Rugby, as part of the 450th anniversary celebrations.

2 subjects commemorated
Guy Fawkes

Guy Fawkes

Born a protestant in York but became a Catholic when his widowed mother married a Catholic. A professional soldier, he fought for Spain but when he realised that Spain would not invade Britain and ...

Person, Execution, Nationalism, Seriously Famous

1 memorial
Gold Brothers

Gold Brothers

The Gold brothers, Warren (1938 - 2015), David and Harold, started with market stalls in Petticoat Lane. They opened the first Lord John, a men's clothes boutique, in Carnaby Street on 13 February ...

Group, Craft / Design

1 memorial