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

Gunner Frederick George Gatward

Gunner Frederick George Gatward

Frederick George Gatward was born on 20 March 1890 in Bromley-by-Bow, London, the eldest of the eight children of George Frederick Gatward (1868-1922) and Sarah Gatward née Impey (1872-1943). His b...

Person, Armed Forces, Transport, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
W. A. Gomm

W. A. Gomm

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Pilot Officer Grant Eugene Eichar

Pilot Officer Grant Eugene Eichar

Pilot Officer Grant Eugene Eichar was born on 20 April 1915 in Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa, USA, the son of Frank Eugene Eichar (1892-1983) and Lucy May Eichar née Grant (1892-1986). His si...

Person, Armed Forces, USA

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
F. C. Thomas

F. C. Thomas

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
B. R. S. Isaacs

B. R. S. Isaacs

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Greenwich Hospital

Greenwich Hospital

From Greenwich Hospital: "The Royal Charter of William and Mary dated 25 October 1694 established the Royal Hospital for Seamen (latterly known as Greenwich Hospital) as a home for retired seamen o...

Place, Armed Forces, Social Welfare

2 memorials
Hospital for Tropical Diseases

Hospital for Tropical Diseases

The Hospital for Tropical Diseases was founded on an ex-naval ship in 1821, before moving to the Royal Greenwich Hospital, and thence to the Endsleigh Gardens site in 1920. Several further moves la...

Group, Medicine

1 memorial
Ron Greenwood

Ron Greenwood

Footballer and football manger. Born at 15 Lennox Street, Worsthorne. near Burnley, Lancashire. As a centre-half he played for various clubs including Brentford and Fulham. After retiring from play...

Person, Sport / Games

1 memorial
German Lutheran church in Hanbury Street

German Lutheran church in Hanbury Street

Occupied the building until sometime between 1818 and 1828. See German Lutheran church in London for an overview.

Group, Religion, Germany

2 memorials