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

Sir Jacob Astley

Sir Jacob Astley

Jacob Astley, 1st Baron Astley of Reading was a Royalist commander in the English Civil War. Born Norfolk. Served Charles I loyally and, when the cause was lost, retired to Maidstone.

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial
Major-General Sir George Joseph Hamilton Evatt, KCB

Major-General Sir George Joseph Hamilton Evatt, KCB

George Joseph Hamilton Evatt was born on 11 November 1843 in Dublin, Ireland, the eldest child of Captain George Joseph Evatt of the 70th (Surrey) Regiment of Foot (1813-1858) and Mary Anne Evatt n...

Person, Armed Forces, Medicine, India, Ireland

1 memorial
Thomas Darcy, Lord Darcey of Templehurst

Thomas Darcy, Lord Darcey of Templehurst

Known as Lord Darcy de Darcy or Darcy of Templehurst or Temple Hirst.  Early success as a soldier, and then at court but his involvement in Aske's rebellion, known as the 'Pilgrimage of Grace', led...

Person, Armed Forces, Execution, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
R. Atwell

R. Atwell

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Boudicca / Boadicea / Boudica

Boudicca / Boadicea / Boudica

Queen of the Iceni.  When the Romans arrived in AD 43 her husband, Prasutagus, was ruling the Iceni, the people in East Anglia.  The Romans allowed him to continue his rule but when he died their a...

Person, Armed Forces, Nationalism, Seriously Famous

2 memorials

Previously viewed

Heritage Foundation

Heritage Foundation

We believe this group now encompasses Comic Heritage, Musical Heritage, Sports Heritage and Films and Television Heritage. Its aim is to pay tribute to Britain's entertainers and raise funds for go...

Group, Cinema, History, Humour, Music / songs, Sport / Games, Theatre, TV & Radio

64 memorials
Nightingale Badge - New

Nightingale Badge - New

The badge was introduced as a successor to the former Nightingale Badge. It is awarded to nurses who are deemed outstanding and who meet the definition of a ‘next generation Nightingale’, which is ...

Event, Medicine

1 memorial
Lady Kortright

Lady Kortright

Aided by Andrew Behan we have found two candidates for the Lady Kortright who gave the funds to the Grosvenor Hospital but cannot conclusively identify her. See what you think… One candidate is th...

Person, Benefactor, USA

1 memorial
J. Wisden & Co

J. Wisden & Co

Wisden's Almanack, the 'Bible of Cricket' was first published by John Wisden.  It appears annually and contains a vast amount of information about English and overseas cricket, including scores of ...

Media, Journalism / Publishing, Sport / Games

1 memorial