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

Police Memorial Trust

Police Memorial Trust

A charitable organisation created following a letter to The Times from Michael Winner about the death of Yvonne Fletcher, and it was in her memory that the Trust's first memorial was erected. The p...

Group, Armed Forces, History, Philanthropy

9 memorials
W. S. Younger

W. S. Younger

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex

Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex

Born in Essex House.  He was the son of Queen Elizabeth's Essex, and the last in the line.

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Royal Naval Air Service

Royal Naval Air Service

We can't find a date for when this was first formed; it seems to have come into existence gradually.  The use of aircraft for military and naval purposes was first discussed officially in 1908.  Tw...

Group, Armed Forces, Aviation

2 memorials
Sir Arthur Harris, "Bomber Harris"

Sir Arthur Harris, "Bomber Harris"

Marshal of the Royal Air Force BT, GCB, OBE, AFC. Born Cheltenham. Died at home at Goring-on-Thames. Appointed Commander-in-Chief, Bomber Command in 1942. He quickly made his command very success...

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Charles Rossi

Charles Rossi

Sculptor. Born Nottingham, son of an Italian immigrant. Apprenticed to Locatelli, they arrived in London in 1775 and carved the medallions at the Middlesex Sessions House. Achieved a good reputatio...

Person, Sculpture, Italy

2 memorials
Georges Malissard

Georges Malissard

Sculptor. The picture on the right is his work 'A Polo Player'.

Person, Sculpture, France

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
London County Council

London County Council

Prior to the LCC London matters were run by church parishes. The LCC was the first directly elected strategic local government body for London. Replaced by the Greater London Council, covering a la...

Group, Politics & Administration

279 memorials