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

Harry Daniels, VC

Harry Daniels, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 12 March 1915, age 30, while serving in the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own). "When the battalion advance was halted by wire, he rushed forward and under h...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
E. W. Vardill

E. W. Vardill

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. F. Baker

G. F. Baker

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
Chiswick War Memorial Homes

Chiswick War Memorial Homes

Homes for disabled servicemen and women, and the families of those killed in conflicts. Founded by Stoll (Formerly the Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation). The first homes were opened in Fulham, followed ...

Building, Armed Forces, Philanthropy

1 memorial
Corporal Henry Percy Goodwin

Corporal Henry Percy Goodwin

Henry Percy Goodwin was the son of Warren Herbert Goodwin. His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1886 in the Chelsea registration district which means he could have been born in late 1885 ...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Admiral Duncan pub bombing

Admiral Duncan pub bombing

Well known as a gay pub, the Admiral Duncan was the site chosen by Neo-Nazi David Copeland to detonate a nail bomb which killed three people and wounded 70. Copeland, who was also responsible for ...

Event, Commerce, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink, Gender Issues, Terrorism, Tragedy

3 memorials
Shells on Shell Centre

Shells on Shell Centre

SE1, York Road

We photographed these rather luscious shells thinking they probably came off another building belonging to the company, probably one they...

1 creator
Willesden Boer War memorial

Willesden Boer War memorial

68102, Omaha, Nebraska, USA, Billy Frog's bar, 1120 Howard Street

In 1997 someone saw this plaque and posted about it on an on-line forum, with no photo.  All the post said was that the plaque commemorat...

War dead | Other war
57 subjects commemorated
Salvation Army - indoors

Salvation Army - indoors

E1, New Road, 23

Booth moved his meetings which had begun in the summer in a tent inside as the winter approached. The building was known as the Assembly...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
St Mary's trompe l'oeil - Unknown 3

St Mary's trompe l'oeil - Unknown 3

W2, St Mary's Square, Blossom Lower School

This 1981 Quinlan Terry building was originally the vestry or parish hall. It is decorated with trompe l'oeil statuary, 2 items on each o...