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.

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. J. D. Townsend

W. J. D. Townsend

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
Captain William Mudge

Captain William Mudge

Surveyor. Born Plymouth, godson of Samuel Johnson. Served in South Carolina. 1791 joined the Ordnance Trigonometrical Survey and became its director in 1798. Thus a very important figure in the wor...

Person, Armed Forces, Science, USA

1 memorial
J. W. Pocock

J. W. Pocock

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
Indian Rebellion / Indian Mutiny

Indian Rebellion / Indian Mutiny

A major, but ultimately unsuccessful, uprising in India against the rule of the British East India Company. Also known as the Sepoy Mutiny.

Event, Armed Forces, India

1 memorial
William John George Evans, VC

William John George Evans, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 30 July 1916, age 40, while serving in the Manchester Regiment. "He volunteered to take an important message back; five had been killed in previous attempts but un...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Lady Diana Spencer - SW5

Lady Diana Spencer - SW5

SW5, Old Brompton Road, Flat 60, Coleherne Court

Virginia Clarke, one of her former flatmates, assisted with the unveiling of the plaque.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Bicycle - hobby horse

Bicycle - hobby horse

From the picture source website: "The forerunner of the bicycle, the 'Hobby' or 'Dandy Horse' was invented by the German Baron Karl von Drais in France in 1817. It was introduced to England by Deni...

Vehicle, Science

1 memorial
Burghers of Calais

Burghers of Calais

SW1, Abingdon Street, Victoria Tower Gardens

Created for the town square in Calais following France's devastating defeat in the Prussian War. Erected there in 1895. There are twelve...

1 subject commemorated, 4 creators
William Hartridge

William Hartridge

Deputy of the Broad Street Ward of the City of London in 1878.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
William Orren

William Orren

Role on the lost expedition: Able seaman on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.

Person, Exploring, Tragedy

1 memorial