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

Alfred Joseph Richards VC

Alfred Joseph Richards VC

Soldier,. born in Plymouth. He was a sergeant in the 1st Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers. On 25th April at Gallipoli, Turkey, soldiers landing on the beach faced fire from hidden machine guns c...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Lance Corporal Robert Henry Howard

Lance Corporal Robert Henry Howard

Robert Henry Howard was born on 17 October 1895, a son of Robert Henry Howard and Jane Howard née Walker. His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1895 in the Paddington registration district...

Person, Armed Forces, Belgium

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
C. W. Deaves

C. W. Deaves

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
W. A. Unwin

W. A. Unwin

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

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EMI

EMI

Music record label. Electric and Musical Industries Ltd was formed in London in March 1931 by the merger of the Columbia Graphophone Company and the Gramophone Company. See there for EMI's beginnin...

Group, Music / songs

2 memorials
William Offwood

William Offwood

From the parish of St Thomas in Bethnal Green and killed in WW1, a rifleman aged 37.

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Inigo Jones

Inigo Jones

Architect and stage designer. Born near Smithfield. Never married. He studied architecture in Italy and brought the new Palladian designs to Britain. Became Surveyor of the King's Works, the king's...

Person, Architecture, Seriously Famous

4 memorials
Lady Eleanor Holles School

Lady Eleanor Holles School

Founded near what is now the Barbican. One of the oldest girls' schools in the country,  this was established when a trust for its endowment as a Christian foundation was created under the will of ...

Group, Education

1 memorial
Achille Pini
War dead, WW1
1 memorial