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

Christopher Rahere Webb

Christopher Rahere Webb

Known professionally as Christopher Webb, he was a stained glass designer. Christopher Rahere Webb was a son of Edward Alfred Webb and a nephew of Sir Aston Webb. His middle name, Rahere, refers to...

Person, Armed Forces, Craft / Design

1 memorial
Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich

Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich

Infantry officer, naval officer and politician. Born Northamptonshire. Patron and good friend to Pepys. Fought on behalf of Cromwell's Commonwealth first in the army and then as a General at Sea.  ...

Person, Armed Forces, Race Issues

1 memorial
Earl Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar

Earl Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar

British field marshal, served in India and the Boer War. Born India to an Irishman who was serving there at the time.  Considered himself Anglo-Irish even though he lived at Ascot.  1901 - 4 Comman...

Person, Armed Forces, France, India, Ireland

3 memorials
Sir Tasker Watkins

Sir Tasker Watkins

Soldier and judge. Born at 9 Station Terrace, Nelson, Glamorgan. In Normandy, he led an assault on a German machine-gun post. After all the other officers were killed in the approach, he continued ...

Person, Armed Forces, Law, France, Wales

1 memorial
Women's Royal Naval Service

Women's Royal Naval Service

The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS; popularly and officially known as the Wrens) was the women's branch of the Royal Navy. First formed in 1917 for WW1, it was disbanded in 1919, then revived in...

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial

Previously viewed

F. V. Crosskey

F. V. Crosskey

Penge resident, member of the armed services, killed in WW2.

Person

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
James Culhane
War dead, WW1
2 memorials
Roland Hart
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Freemason VCs

Freemason VCs

WC2, Great Queen Street, Freemasons' Hall

Unveiled by the Duke of Kent.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
J. G. Hallett

J. G. Hallett

Limehouse man who died in WW1.

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial