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

W. V. Chapman

W. V. Chapman

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
Air Mechanic 2nd Class George Greenland

Air Mechanic 2nd Class George Greenland

George Greenland was born on 10 June 1896 in Stepney, London, the second of six children of George Greenland (1871-1923) and Charlotte Harriet Greenland née Sayers née Ockleford (1867-1946). His bi...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Col. Humphrey Mackworth

Col. Humphrey Mackworth

Appointed governor of Shrewsbury in 1645 and was a colonel in Cromwell's Parliamentary army. Died in London and was buried in Westminster Abbey. When Charles II was restored to the throne he order...

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Indian Rebellion / Indian Mutiny

Indian Rebellion / Indian Mutiny

A major, but ultimately unsuccessful, uprising in India against the rule of the British East India Company. Also known as the Sepoy Mutiny.

Event, Armed Forces, India

1 memorial
George Cartwright, VC

George Cartwright, VC

Soldier. Born in South Kensington. He emigrated to Australia in 1912, and in 1915, enlisted in their Imperial Force. He joined the 33rd battalion, and after training in Britain was deployed to the ...

Person, Armed Forces, Australia

War served, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Yes

Yes

A progressive rock band formed in the basement of the then Lucky Horseshoe Cafe, at the site of the plaque.  Their first gig with the name Yes was in Essex on 3 August 1968. The band is still recor...

Group, Music / songs

1 memorial
Transport for London / London Transport

Transport for London / London Transport

This organisation has been a bit of a political football, often having its name changed, as follows: 1902 - 1933 Underground Electric Railways Company of London 1933 - 1948 London Passenger Transpo...

Group, Industry, Transport

51 memorials
St Lawrence Jewry

St Lawrence Jewry

St Lawrence Jewry is so called because the original twelfth century church stood on the eastern side of the City, then occupied by the Jewish community. That church, built in 1136, was destroyed in...

Building, Religion

3 memorials
Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II

Born 17 Bruton Street, to the Duke and Duchess of York. For information on where she was brought up see Byron Statue. When she was 10 her father became King George VI (on the abdication of his brot...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous

124 memorials
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

In 1923 Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (descended from the Royal House of Scotland) married Prince Albert, Duke of York, the man who would become George VI when his elder brother Edward VIII abdicated. ...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous

35 memorials