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

Lieutenant Colonel Albert Victor Cowley

Lieutenant Colonel Albert Victor Cowley

Member of the Ealing District Council in 1899. Albert Victor Cowley was born in 1860, the third of the four children of Edward Spencer Dickin Cowley (1816-1893) and Selina Cowley née Lindfield (18...

Person, Armed Forces, Commerce, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Lieutenant James

Lieutenant James

Royal Engineer killed by an exploding bomb while assisting in the attempt to disarm it. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man: Lieutenant Richard James was born about 1900,...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy, Wales

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
A. B. Allen

A. B. Allen

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
G. F. Ward

G. F. Ward

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

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British Transport Police

British Transport Police

A national special police force that polices the railway network of England, Wales and Scotland. The force polices more than 10,000 miles of track and more than 3,000 stations and depots - tasked w...

Group, Emergency Services, Transport

1 memorial
Margaret Nakajima

Margaret Nakajima

Andrew Behan attempted to research this lady and wrote: "The only lady I could trace by consulting both the 'England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007' held at the General Regi...

Person, Friend / family

1 memorial
Glyn, Mills & Co. Bank

Glyn, Mills & Co. Bank

Founded in London as Vere, Glyn & Hallifax. Name changes: c.1780 Glyn, Hallifax and Mills; 1850 Glyn, Mills & Co.; 1864 Glyn, Mills, Currie & Co.; 1923 Glyn, Mills Currie Holt & Co....

Group, Commerce

1 memorial
United Nations Association

United Nations Association

United Nations Associations are non-governmental organizations that exist in various countries to enhance the relationship between the people of a member state and the United Nations. They are not ...

Group, Peace

1 memorial
Wallace Bligh Cheesman

Wallace Bligh Cheesman

Trade unionist in the General Post Office (affiliated to the Western District Office).  Became Secretary of the Fawcett Association in 1892, a post from which he was dismissed, together with the ch...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial