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

J. H. Humphrey

J. H. Humphrey

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
G. J. Evans

G. J. Evans

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
18th Battalion (London Irish Rifles)

18th Battalion (London Irish Rifles)

The 18th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) was formed on 1 April 1908 by the amalgamation of regiments under the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907. Both ...

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
E. G. Heffer

E. G. Heffer

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
E. G. Noyce

E. G. Noyce

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

Previously viewed

Sir C. Wentworth Dilke (Snr)

Sir C. Wentworth Dilke (Snr)

Art patron. Horticultural editor. Born London. 1st baronet. Known as Wentworth to distinguish him from his father of the same name. Pity this care in naming did not extend to the next generation. A...

Person, Gardens / Agriculture, Politics & Administration, Russia

1 memorial
Royal Holloway College

Royal Holloway College

Founded as a women-only college by Thomas Holloway in 1879 on the Mount Lee Estate in Egham. Sir Nikolaus Pevsner called the original college building (now listed Grade 1) "the most ebullient Victo...

Group, Education

1 memorial
Silver Jubilee urn

Silver Jubilee urn

WC1, Queen Square

Hughes became Poet Laureate a few years later and Larkin was of similar standing. In our view their lines for the jubilee do not greatly ...

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Goodwin's Court

Goodwin's Court

WC2, Goodwin's Court

2018: A London Inheritance has a very good post on this little alleyway. A mention there of a plaque to Nell Gwynne prompted us to return...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Warne, Jnr.

Warne, Jnr.

Either burnt or poisoned in prison for his Protestant beliefs. Son of Elizabeth.

Person, Execution, Religion

1 memorial