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

Corporal Frederick John Henry Barrett

Corporal Frederick John Henry Barrett

Frederick John Henry Barrett was born on 6 July 1914, a son of Arthur Willie Barrett (1891-1980) and Florence Alice Barrett née Boland (1891-1916), his birth being registered in the 3rd quarter of ...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer

Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer

Born Colchester. Fought in both world wars. Chief of the Imperial General Staff 1955–8. Chief military adviser during the Suez Crisis. Colonel of the Royal Horse Guards from 1963 and Colonel of the...

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial
W. Turner

W. Turner

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Rifleman Claude Robert Harry Bartram

Rifleman Claude Robert Harry Bartram

Claude Robert Harry Bartram was born on the 27 June 1893 the son of John Abraham Bartram (1856-1925) and his second wife Emily Catherine Bartram née Hunger (b.1857). His birth was registered in the...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Celia Fiennes

Celia Fiennes

Traveller and diarist.  Born near Salisbury.  Moved to join a sister's family in London in 1691.  She explored England on horse-back at a time when travel was difficult and particularly so for a wo...

Person, Exploring

1 memorial
Tom Thornton

Tom Thornton

Newspaper proprietor and campaigner. Born in Norwood. He became owner and editor of the Beckenham Journal, and used his influence in helping to establish the Croydon Road Recreation Ground. His pre...

Person, Commerce, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
Beresford Pite

Beresford Pite

Architect.  Born, Arthur Beresford Pite, 9 South Terrace, Grosvenor Park, Walworth. London buildings: 30 Euston Square the original building with the Melton Street frontage - HQ of an assurance co...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Poet Laureate. Born Lincolnshire. Wrote 'Morte d'Arthur' (1859-85) about King Arthur and 'In Memoriam A. H. H.' (1850) a long elegy for his Cambridge friend and his sister Emily's fiancé, Arthur He...

Person, Poetry, Seriously Famous

5 memorials
Fleet Air Arm

Fleet Air Arm

In 1918 the Royal Naval Air Service merged with the Royal Flying Corps to form the RAF. 6 years later the Fleet Air Arm was formed encompassing all the RAF flying operations based on aircraft carri...

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial