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

Richard Braley

Richard Braley

Captain Richard Gordon Braley was born on 16 June 1921 in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, USA, the son and elder child of Rex Estes Braley (1890-1981) and Jessie Maude Braley née McCament...

Person, Armed Forces, USA

War served, WW2
1 memorial
Bengal Artillery 6th Company 9rd Battalion

Bengal Artillery 6th Company 9rd Battalion

Part of the force commanded by Havelock.

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
Bernard Cyril Freyberg, VC

Bernard Cyril Freyberg, VC

Soldier and administrator. Born Bernard Cyril Freyberg in Richmond, Surrey. He spent his early life in New Zealand, and at the outbreak of WWI enlisted in Britain and fought in Gallipoli and France...

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration, France, New Zealand, Turkey

War served, WW1
3 memorials
George Down

George Down

Private George Arthur Down was born on 8 June 1884 in Putney. He was the eldest of the six children of William Down (1859-1943) and Emily Elizabeth Down née Hunter (1859-1947). His father was a boo...

Person, Armed Forces, Commerce, France

1 memorial
Lance Corporal George Alfred Pearce

Lance Corporal George Alfred Pearce

Alfred George Pearce was born on 9 March 1892 in Stoke Newington, London, one of the six children of Ernest Pearce (1858-1939) and Mary Elizbeth Pearce née Rolfe (1859-1914). His birth was register...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Edith Fletcher

Edith Fletcher

SE1, Lambeth Road

This church is the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St George, the seat of the Archbishop of Southwark. The building was designed by Augu...

1 subject commemorated
Frieze of Parnassus - Mendelsohn

Frieze of Parnassus - Mendelsohn

SW7, Kensington Road

The monument, commissioned by Queen Victoria and designed by George Gilbert Scott, was built 1864-72, and the statue of Albert was instal...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Orwell - Islington - corrected

Orwell - Islington - corrected

N1, Canonbury Square, 27b

May 2016: The Islington Tribute reports that the plaque has been replaced, 27 May, with one giving the correct date of habitation (1944-7...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Men's Cricket World Cup 2019

Men's Cricket World Cup 2019

This was the 12th Men's Cricket World Cup, held four-yearly, and was contended by 10 countries. The two teams in the final (England and New Zealand) tied on 241 runs, requiring a 'super over' in or...

Event, Sport / Games

2 memorials
Oakwood Station

Oakwood Station

N14, Branley Road

This long inscription includes the intriguing text "When the station opened in 1933 a commemorative bronze plaque was fixed to the ticket...

4 subjects commemorated, 1 creator