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

Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood

Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood

Naval officer.  Born Newcastle upon Tyne.  Served at the Battle of Trafalgar where he took over command on Nelson's death.  Died returning home due to illness, near the Baleariac Islands.

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial
Sapper Maycock

Sapper Maycock

Royal Engineer killed by an exploding bomb while assisting in the attempt to disarm it. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man: Somewhat difficult to trace this chap with an...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Eric Archibald McNair, VC

Eric Archibald McNair, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 14 February 1916, age 21, while serving in the Royal Sussex Regiment. "When the enemy exploded a bomb under his position, he reacted instantly driving the enemy ba...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
William Gosling, VC

William Gosling, VC

Battery sergeant in the Royal Field Artillery. Awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 5th April 1917 at the Battle of Arras. Awarded the VC for his heroism on 5 April 1917, age 24, while se...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Major General Charles George Gordon

Major General Charles George Gordon

Army officer. Made his military reputation in China. Achieved lasting fame through his death at the siege of Khartoum. His name, and his marching band (which performs annually at the Whitehall sta...

Person, Armed Forces, China/Hong Kong, Sudan

4 memorials