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

Fusilier Frederick Rhodes

Fusilier Frederick Rhodes

According to the Armed Forces Memorial Roll of Honour housed at the National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Road,  Alrewas, Staffordshire, DE13 7AR, Frederick Rhodes was born on 27 September 1932 and ...

Person, Armed Forces, Korea

War dead, Other war
1 memorial
H. Crowhurst

H. Crowhurst

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Telegraphist Stanley Frederick Barnard

Telegraphist Stanley Frederick Barnard

Stanley Frederick Barnard was born on 29 May 1917 in Edmonton, London, a son of William Joseph Barnard (b.1876) and Annie Barnard née Seymour (b.1877). He was baptised on 8 August 1917 at Christ Ch...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
A. E. McMillan

A. E. McMillan

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Gunner John Barnes

Gunner John Barnes

John Barnes was born in 1896, one of at least five children of John and Ethel Maria Barnes. His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1896 in the Marylebone registration district, London. In ...

Person, Armed Forces, Belgium

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

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Cyclist deaths

Cyclist deaths

Much of the street research for LondonRemembers is done by bike. 820 cyclists were killed or seriously injured in 2009 on roads in Britain. Many of these deaths are avoidable. Many of the drivers o...

Event, Tragedy

49 memorials
Geraldine Mary Harmsworth

Geraldine Mary Harmsworth

Mother of Lord Rothermere.   Born in Dublin as Geraldine Mary Maffett, the daughter of an Irish land agent.  1884 married a barrister, Alfred Harmsworth, and had a number of children: Alfred, Geral...

Person, Friend / family

3 memorials
Valerie Eliot

Valerie Eliot

Second wife and widow of the poet T.S. Eliot. Born Esmé Valerie Fletcher. From the age of 14 she determined to meet Eliot and when she left school she told her headmistress tht she wanted to become...

Person, Friend / family

2 memorials
Henry Poston

Henry Poston

Architect. Worked out of Lombard Street. Also built, in 1898, the Pigeons Hotel, Romford Road in Stratford, now converted to residential.

Person, Architecture

2 memorials
Curtain Theatre - Hewett Street

Curtain Theatre - Hewett Street

EC2, Hewett Street

June 2012 a Museum of London archaeological dig discovered the Curtain Theatre. July 2013 Londonist reported on the plan for the site whi...

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator