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

John Innes Brown III

John Innes Brown III

Major John Innes Brown III was born on 13 January 1920 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA, the son of John William Brown (1887-1955) and Cleone Henrietta Brown née Taggart (1898-1994). The Ame...

Person, Armed Forces, USA

War served, WW2
1 memorial
S. E. Vicars

S. E. Vicars

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
H. Hayes

H. Hayes

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
USAAF - European HQ

USAAF - European HQ

The HQ of the United States Army Air Forces moved from London to Camp Griffiss in Bushy Park and then, following the success of D-Day, to France.

Group, Armed Forces, USA

13 memorials
Major General Sir Henry Havelock

Major General Sir Henry Havelock

Born near Sunderland. Joined the army against his father's wishes. Served in India and the First Afghan War. Recaptured Cawnpore in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Died in the recently relieved Luckn...

Person, Armed Forces, India

War dead, Other war
1 memorial

Previously viewed

London County Council

London County Council

Prior to the LCC London matters were run by church parishes. The LCC was the first directly elected strategic local government body for London. Replaced by the Greater London Council, covering a la...

Group, Politics & Administration

290 memorials
St Margaret Pattens

St Margaret Pattens

The church gets its name from the pattens (clog-like shoes) made and sold in the lane beside the church. An early building was pulled down and reconstructed in 1538. After the Great Fire it was aga...

Building, Religion

2 memorials
Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II

Born 17 Bruton Street, to the Duke and Duchess of York. For information on where she was brought up see Byron Statue. When she was 10 her father became King George VI (on the abdication of his brot...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous

126 memorials
Musical Heritage

Musical Heritage

Merged with the Heritage Foundation.

Group, History, Music / songs

5 memorials
Charterhouse church

Charterhouse church

A chapel was first built here soon after 1348 by Walter de Manny, alongside a burial ground for victims of the Black Death.   In 1371 when the Charterhouse Priory was built here the chapel was inco...

Building, Religion

1 memorial