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

C. E. Smale

C. E. Smale

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
T. McCormick

T. McCormick

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Cecil W. Smith

Cecil W. Smith

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Battlefields Trust

Battlefields Trust

Founded to preserve the battle sites of Britain. The founding motivation was the fact that the battlefield of Naseby, (a perfectly preserved site of the battle of the English Civil War), was to be ...

Group, Armed Forces, History

1 memorial
C. F. Pritchard

C. F. Pritchard

Clive Fleetwood Pritchard was born in 1864 in Canonbury, the eldest of the eight children of Andrew Goring Pritchard (1834-1928) and Marianne Pritchard née Titford (1839-1920). His birth was regist...

Person, Armed Forces, Law, Politics & Administration

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Lesnes Abbey

Lesnes Abbey

Pronounced Lez-ness. Founded by Richard de Lucy, as a penance for his role in the murder of Thomas Becket. It never grew to any great size, and was closed by Cardinal Wolsey under a licence to supp...

Place, Architecture, Religion

1 memorial
La Gioconda / Giaconda

La Gioconda / Giaconda

Back in the 1960s this was the place where would-be future pop icons hung out.  We've found references to: Marc Bolan, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Donovan, Small Faces, Elton John, Jimi Hendrix,...

Group, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink, Music / songs

1 memorial
Great Exhibition

Great Exhibition

From the V&A website: "The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations was held in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London. It was the first international exhibition of manufacture...

Event, Commerce, Museums / Libraries

13 memorials
Market Gardens at Burgess Park

Market Gardens at Burgess Park

Our image is an extract from Stanfords 1862-71 map of London. Albany Road is the main road about a third of the way down; St George's Church is at the lower left; the present-day Chumleigh Gardens ...

Place, Food & Drink, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
London Fire Brigade

London Fire Brigade

The London Fire Engine Establishment, formed in 1833 under the leadership of James Braidwood, was a private organisation funded by insurance companies, mainly aimed at saving material goods from fi...

Group, Emergency Services

13 memorials