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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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.

Read More

Abbey Road Depot - WW2 ARP members lost

Bill Wallis is described on the plaque as 'ARP Stretcher Bearer'. Which we ta...

Read More

Abney Park - CWGC war memorial

The screen wall at the back, south, of the memorial carries a number of bronz...

Read More

Adam Faith

Adam Faith (Terry Nelhams), 1940 - 2003, singer & actor born in a house o...

Read More

African and Caribbean Armed Forces

Unveiled on Windrush Day. A very simple design, we think the horizontal obeli...

Read More

Load next 200 of 378

Other Subjects

Leading Telegraphist James Herbert Dougherty

Leading Telegraphist James Herbert Dougherty

James Herbert Dougherty was born on 18 March 1902 in Charlton, London, the son of James Edward Dougherty (1859-1933) and Amy Ellen Dougherty née Dancer (1858-1921). His birth was registered in the ...

Person, Armed Forces, Scotland

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
W. A. Sharvell

W. A. Sharvell

Resident of the West Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Sapper Samuel James Charman

Sapper Samuel James Charman

Samuel James Charman was born in Beckenham, Kent, one of the nine children of David Charman (1838-1912) and Sarah Charman née Wilson (184-1920), whose birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 189...

Person, Armed Forces, Transport, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
William A. Sutton

William A. Sutton

President of the Royal Air Force Gang Shows Association.

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial
Frederick, Duke of York

Frederick, Duke of York

Born St James's Palace, the second and favourite son of George III. Card gambler. Fought a duel on Wimbledon Common. Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, 1795 - 1809 and 1811 - 1827. Died, heavi...

Person, Armed Forces, Royalty

2 memorials

Previously viewed

Leslie Boivin

Leslie Boivin

Member of Eton Manor Boys Club who died in WW2 on active service.

Person

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Charterhouse School

Charterhouse School

Founded by Thomas Sutton in 1611, the year of his death. An ex-Carthusian priory near Smithfield was used for the school - thus pupils are known as Carthusians. Sutton was buried in the chapel. Th...

Building, Education

1 memorial
Westminster School Society

Westminster School Society

A charity administered by a council of Old Westminsters that provides financial assistance to Westminster School for the benefit of current pupils.

Group, Benefactor, Education

2 memorials
Loughton Town Council

Loughton Town Council

An Urban District Council from 1900 to 1933. It became part of Chigwell Urban District until 1974, when Epping Forest District Council was created. Loughton Town Council was established in 1996.

Group, Politics & Administration

16 memorials
Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn

Second wife of Henry VIII and so Queen of England, 1533 to 1536.  Though married to Catherine of Aragon, Henry developed a passion for one of her maids of honour, Anne, and so began the whole horri...

Person, Execution, Royalty, Seriously Famous

6 memorials