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

Private George Albert Larkin

Private George Albert Larkin

George Albert Larkin was born on 21 September 1898 in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, the third of the ten children of George Albert Larkin (1873-1947) and Mary Teresa Larkin née Kelly (1878-1920). ...

Person, Armed Forces, Burma, Ireland

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Signalman George James Ewer

Signalman George James Ewer

George James Ewer was born in 1913 the son of Frederick George Ewer (1881-1964) and Elizabeth Kate Ewer née Howard (1881-1967). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1913 in the Willesden ...

Person, Armed Forces, Germany

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
W. G. Stockwell

W. G. Stockwell

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
J. Doran

J. Doran

Died serving in WW1. Member of the parish of Saint Olave and Saint John Southwark.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Gunner Thomas Ransom

Gunner Thomas Ransom

Thomas Ransom was born in 1894, one of the seven children of William Edward Ransom (1859-1942) and Mary Ann Ransom née Allison (1860-1949). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1894 in th...

Person, Armed Forces, Israel/Palestine

War served, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Lesnes Abbey

Lesnes Abbey

Pronounced Lez-ness. Founded by Richard de Lucy, as a penance for his role in the murder of Thomas Becket. It never grew to any great size, and was closed by Cardinal Wolsey under a licence to supp...

Place, Architecture, Religion

1 memorial
Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria

Reigned: 1837-1901, 64 years. Born Kensington Palace. Daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg. Niece of her predecessor, King William IV. Her first name was Alexandrin...

Person, Race Issues, Royalty, Seriously Famous

77 memorials
Royal Hospital Chelsea

Royal Hospital Chelsea

A retirement and nursing home for British soldiers who are unfit for further duty due to injury or old age. They are popularly known as ‘Chelsea Pensioners’. Founded by King Charles II in 1682 and...

Building, Armed Forces, Gardens / Agriculture, Social Welfare

6 memorials