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

Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars

Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars

Yeomanry regiment which saw service in the Second Boer War with 40 and 59 Companies of the Imperial Yeomanry and also served in Belgium and France during WW1. In 1922, the regiment became part of t...

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
The Reverend Alan Greenbat, OBE

The Reverend Alan Greenbat, OBE

Was Vice Principal of the Jewish Orphanage at Norwood in 1956 and by 2000 had a position in the Office of the Chief Rabbi. Alan Greenbat was born 2 April 1929, the son of Maximilian Greenbat (1893...

Person, Armed Forces, Philanthropy, Religion

1 memorial
Arthur James Goreham

Arthur James Goreham

Arthur James Goreham was born on 13 May 1899 in West Ham, the youngest of four children of William Goreham and Mary Jane Goreham née Oriss. His father was a General Labourer. The 1901 census shows ...

Person, Armed Forces, Emergency Services, Tragedy

0 memorials
George Bridges Rodney

George Bridges Rodney

Born London. Naval officer involved in the American revolution. Died in Hanover Square.

Person, Armed Forces

2 memorials
G. R. Maynard

G. R. Maynard

Employed at the Holloway tram garage. Served and was killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

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Enid Blyton

Enid Blyton

Children's writer. Born Enid Mary Blyton at 354 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich. Best known for creating the character of Little Noddy and the 'Famous Five' stories. Her works have been translated into...

Person, Children, Literature, Race Issues, Seriously Famous

4 memorials
World War 1

World War 1

We'd always assumed that this war was known as the Great War until WW2 came along at which point it was renamed as World War One or the First World War. But the term was first used in print in 1920...

Event, Armed Forces, Tragedy

402 memorials
Chenies Street War Memorial

Chenies Street War Memorial

WC1, Chenies Street

Prior to WW2 this crescent was occupied by a landscaped garden and was quite a swanky address. Ornamental Passions has an article on the...

4 subjects commemorated
Frederick Henry Edward Brand

Frederick Henry Edward Brand

A parishioner or member of the congregation of St Matthias, N16, who died in WW1.

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Holborn Viaduct - Fitz Eylwin

Holborn Viaduct - Fitz Eylwin

EC4, Holborn Viaduct

Holborn Viaduct is watched over by four memorial statues:north-west corner - Walworthsouth-west corner - Fitz Eylwin south-east corner - ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator