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

F. F. Baker

F. F. Baker

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Ephraim Alfred Dudley

Ephraim Alfred Dudley

We are grateful to Maria A Hessman in the USA, for telling us that her grandfather modelled for the WW1 soldier on the Rifle Brigade monument and for sending us the following information about him:...

Person, Armed Forces, Artists' Model

1 memorial
Captain Geoffrei Hugh Austen-Cartmell

Captain Geoffrei Hugh Austen-Cartmell

Geoffrei Hugh Austen-Cartmell was born on 30 October 1895, the second of the three children of James Austen Cartmell (1862-1921) and Mary Affleck Cartmell née Peacock (1860-1906). Civil Registratio...

Person, Armed Forces, Law, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
K. E. R. Lewis

K. E. R. Lewis

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
William Allison White, VC

William Allison White, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 18 September 1918, age 23, while serving in the Machine Gun Corps. "Three times he charged ahead and captured enemy guns and positions. His example of fearless and...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

St Pauls German Evangelical Reformed Church

St Pauls German Evangelical Reformed Church

Built 1886-1887, destroyed by bombing in 1941.  We have failed to find a picture of this church but AIM25 gives this: "The German Evangelical Reformed Church was established in London in 1697 by Pr...

Building, Education, Germany

1 memorial
Thomas Hood

Thomas Hood

Born 31 Poultry and died at home in Devonshire Lodge, London. Example: "Ben Battle was a soldier bold, And used to war's alarms, But a cannon-ball took off his legs, So he laid down his arms."

Person, Humour, Poetry

4 memorials
Heritage Foundation

Heritage Foundation

We believe this group now encompasses Comic Heritage, Musical Heritage, Sports Heritage and Films and Television Heritage. Its aim is to pay tribute to Britain's entertainers and raise funds for go...

Group, Cinema, History, Humour, Music / songs, Sport / Games, Theatre, TV & Radio

64 memorials
The Friends of Greenwich Park

The Friends of Greenwich Park

A charity dedicated to the conservation, improvement and enjoyment of Greenwich Park.

Group, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Edward Sackville-West

Edward Sackville-West

Edward Charles Sackville-West, 5th Baron Sackville was a music critic, novelist and, in his last 3 years, a member of the House of Lords. Born at Cadogan Gardens, son of Major-General Charles John...

Person, Literature, Music / songs, Politics & Administration

1 memorial