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

Rainbow Corner

Rainbow Corner

Club for the American forces in the UK during WW2. Also known as the American Red Cross Club. This is where those "oversexed, overpaid and over here" GIs hung out. From British History online: The...

Building, Armed Forces, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
Lance Corporal William Francis Spurstow Miller

Lance Corporal William Francis Spurstow Miller

William Francis Spurstow Miller was born in 1893 in Southsea, Hampshire, one of the four children of Admiral Francis Spurstow Miller CB (1863-1954) and Amy Knowles Miller née Ross (1870-1949). His ...

Person, Armed Forces, France, New Zealand

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Police Sergeant Noel Lane

Police Sergeant Noel Lane

Andrew Behan has researched this man: Police Sergeant Noel Joseph Lane was born on 7 November 1955, the son of Ernest George Lane and Mary Teresa Lane née Christmas. His birth was registered in the...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

1 memorial
First police training school

First police training school

The first organised training school was opened in 1907 at Peel House in Regency Street, Pimlico. Officer recruits undertook a four-week training course before being posted to their beat. Moved to H...

Place, Armed Forces, Education

1 memorial
A. Baines

A. Baines

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

Richard Carr Kirkpatrick

Richard Carr Kirkpatrick

NW6, Kilbrun Park Road, St Augustine's Church

The listing text gives “Granite stepped pedestal surmounted by granite crucifix with bronze figures of the dead Christ flanked by Keary a...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Anton Bruckner

Anton Bruckner

EC2, Finsbury Square, 39 - 45, City Gate House

Plaque put up by Brunel University but we can't work out their connection with the building, or Bruckner.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Edith Cavell statue

Edith Cavell statue

WC2, St Martin's Place

This was the obvious memorial to choose as the first featured memorial for London Remembers, in February 2004. Cavell was executed by the...

War dead | WW1
2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Red Lines

Red Lines

SE1, Tower Bridge Road

We only know about this small plaque, laid in the pavement near the kerb, because we know someone whose business is painting lines on roa...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Nancy in Oliver Twist

Nancy in Oliver Twist

Character created by Charles Dickens in his novel Oliver Twist, first published 1838.

Fiction, Fictional

3 memorials