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

W. Senper

W. Senper

Resident of Willesden who volunteered and died in the Anglo Boer War, 1899-1900.

Person, Armed Forces, South Africa

War dead, Other war
1 memorial
F. C. Hall

F. C. Hall

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
Gurkha soldier
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
A. J. Lee

A. J. Lee

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
Major Cyril Martin, GC

Major Cyril Martin, GC

Soldier. Born Cyril Arthur Joseph Martin in Derby. He served with the Royal Garrison Artillery and then with the Corps of Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Squad. In Battersea on 17/18th January 1943,...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Lady Spencer-Churchill

Lady Spencer-Churchill

Clementine, married Winston Churchill in 1908. Born 75 Grosvenor Street as Clementine Hozier. Recorded as the daughter of Sir Henry Hozier and Lady Blanche Hozier, but it is widely accepted that S...

Person, Friend / family

4 memorials
Guy's Hospital

Guy's Hospital

Founded by Thomas Guy in concept in 1721 but it was not until 6 January 1725 that the first sixty patients were admitted.  Aim 25 have a good summary of the history.  Guy's and St Thomas' are consi...

Place, Medicine

13 memorials
Edwin Bedford

Edwin Bedford

Co-executor, with Charles Jellicoe, to Mary Gray Ratray who died in 1873. He was a solicitor who lived at 5 Royal Crescent and worked at Haberdasher's Hall. We were shocked to read in The Law Time...

Person, Law

1 memorial
Central Foundation Girls School

Central Foundation Girls School

E3, Bow Road

Below the first floor bay window a large stone frieze is beginning to crumble but still reads: "Stepney & Bow Foundation Coborn Girls...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Eton Mission Rowing Club

Eton Mission Rowing Club

From Hear the Boat Sing: "EMRC has a fascinating history and was started in the East London docklands in the late 19th century by a group of old Etonians, who saw it as their mission to help boys i...

Group, Children, Sport / Games

1 memorial