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

Earl of Kilmarnock

Earl of Kilmarnock

Jacobite.  Taken prisoner at the Battle of Culloden.  Tried and beheaded on the Tower Hill scaffold.

Person, Armed Forces, Execution, Scotland

1 memorial
V. A. Lambert

V. A. Lambert

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
F. Butler

F. Butler

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
Gunner Lewis William Harman

Gunner Lewis William Harman

Lewis William Harman was born on 2 October 1895 in Lambeth, the fourth of the ten children of William Benson Harman (1870-1914) and Sarah Harman née Davis (1867-1940). On 27 October 1895 he was bap...

Person, Armed Forces, Belgium

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Royal Arsenal Riverside Guardrooms

Royal Arsenal Riverside Guardrooms

Originally the two guardrooms flanked a grand staircase, which was the riverside entrance to Woolwich Arsenal. One has been converted into a restaurant.

Place, Armed Forces

1 memorial

Previously viewed

City Temple

City Temple

EC4, Holborn Viaduct

This memorial is in the porch on the east wall. On the west wall is another similar plaque which reads "This stone which was unveiled by...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Overseas League

Overseas League

The Royal Over-Seas League was founded in 1910 by Sir Evelyn Wrench to foster international understanding and friendship.

Group, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
The Ashden Trust

The Ashden Trust

Charity. One of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts, which focuses on climate change, sustainable development and improving the quality of life in poor communities.

Group, Benefactor

1 memorial
Noël Barclay

Noël Barclay

Central President of the Mothers' Union in 1925. We found reference to a publication probably authored by her: Barclay, E. Noel, Marriage and Divorce (1936).

Person, Gender Issues, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Henry Jerrold Randall Lane, CBE

Henry Jerrold Randall Lane, CBE

Henry Jerrold Randall Lane was born on 29 April 1898. He married Elizabeth Kathleen Coulborn (1905-1988) in the 1st quarter of 1926 in the South Manchester registration district, Lancashire. (See ...

Person, Law

1 memorial