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

K. P. Harman

K. P. Harman

Camden Borough engineer & surveyor in 1969. Initials after his name: "B.Sc. (Eng.) F.I.C.E., F.I.Mun.E.". From the information given by Dugald Gonsal which is shown on our Memorial entry for t...

Person, Armed Forces, Engineering

1 memorial
Evacuation of Namsos

Evacuation of Namsos

The Namsos Campaign in Norway, was fought between Anglo-French/Norwegian forces, and German forces. After heavy fighting, the German forces took the upper hand, and the decision was made to evacuat...

Event, Armed Forces, Norway

1 memorial
Cuthbert Bromley, VC

Cuthbert Bromley, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 25 April 1915, age 36, while serving in the Lancashire Fusiliers. "[Despite] deadly fire from hidden machine guns and being severely wounded he continued to lead h...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
E. C. Mungeam

E. C. Mungeam

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
H. M. Clark

H. M. Clark

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

Previously viewed

John Carswell

John Carswell

Chairman of the Heath and Old Hampstead Society.

Person, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
Following the Leader

Following the Leader

SE11, Laud Street, Vauxhall Gardens Estate, Darley House

The full title 'Following the Leader (Memorial to the Children Killed in the Blitz)’ makes it clear that this relief is indeed a memorial...

4 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Society of Friends in London

Society of Friends in London

English Buildings has a good short intro to Quakers in England and an assessment of an important Quaker building, albeit, not in London. Quakers were active in the WW2 Kindertransport.

Group, Religion

3 memorials
Carabiniers

Carabiniers

Former cavalry regiment, officially the Sixth Dragoon Guards. They participated in putting down the rebellion of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745-46 and fought in the Peninsular, Crimean and Boer Wars...

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
Nightingale Nurse Training School

Nightingale Nurse Training School

In full, the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care. The world's first nursing school to be continuously connected to a fully serving hospital (St Thomas's) and me...

Group, Education, Medicine

1 memorial