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

Captain Hugh Ince Webb-Bowen

Captain Hugh Ince Webb-Bowen

Despite extensive research we have been unable to trace a Henry Ince Webb-Bowen who played for the London Welsh Rugby Club, who was born in 1878 and who died in 1915 in WW1. We believe whoever comm...

Person, Armed Forces, Law, Sport / Games, Egypt, India, South Africa, Turkey, Wales

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Col. Sir Horace Brooks Marshall, K.C.V.O., LL.D.

Col. Sir Horace Brooks Marshall, K.C.V.O., LL.D.

Very successfully pioneered bookshops on railway stations with the business name Horace Marshall and Son. The son being Horace Brooks Marshall, Jnr.  Snr. was a Commoner on the Bridge House Estates...

Person, Armed Forces, Commerce, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
A. B. Allen

A. B. Allen

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
S. Wallace

S. Wallace

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Lord Charles Portal

Lord Charles Portal

Marshal of the RAF.  Born Hungerford.  Served in WWI first as a motorcycle despatch rider and then joined the Royal Flying Corps and became a pilot.  Promoted rapidly and well-decorated.  Chief of ...

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Inception Group

Inception Group

Company founded by Charlie Gilkes and Duncan Stirling. It operates a group of theme bars, restaurants and clubs.

Group, Commerce, Food & Drink

3 memorials
Greater London Council

Greater London Council

Replaced the LCC. The GLC was abolished, some say, because Mrs Thatcher could not abide its left-wing politics, nor its leader, Ken Livingstone.  On its 50th anniversary Diamond Geezer posted a goo...

Group, Politics & Administration

241 memorials
Lord Rosebery, Archibald Philip Primrose

Lord Rosebery, Archibald Philip Primrose

Born 20 Charles Street. Prime Minister, 1894-5, and first Chairman of the London County Council (1889-90, 1892-3). On the death of his wife, Hannah, he was subjected to accusations of homosexuality...

Person, Politics & Administration

3 memorials
Epping Town Council

Epping Town Council

The parish council for the town of Epping, established as a result of government reorganisation and the abolition of the Urban District Councils.

Group, Politics & Administration

2 memorials
Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd

Rock group. Founded by students Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters and Richard Wright, and later joined by David Gilmour. They achieved international success with albums such as 'The Dark Side o...

Group, Music / songs

1 memorial