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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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.

Read More

Abbey Road Depot - WW2 ARP members lost

Bill Wallis is described on the plaque as 'ARP Stretcher Bearer'. Which we ta...

Read More

Abney Park - CWGC war memorial

The screen wall at the back, south, of the memorial carries a number of bronz...

Read More

Adam Faith

Adam Faith (Terry Nelhams), 1940 - 2003, singer & actor born in a house o...

Read More

African and Caribbean Armed Forces

Unveiled on Windrush Day. A very simple design, we think the horizontal obeli...

Read More

Load next 200 of 376

Other Subjects

W. D. Grout

W. D. Grout

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
Oscar Hoffman Coen

Oscar Hoffman Coen

Colonel Oscar Hoffman Coen was born on 11 May 1917 in Walum, Hannaford, Griggs County, North Dakota, USA, the second child of Archie Blain Coen (1890-1963) and Mary Henrietta Coen née Hoffman (1894...

Person, Armed Forces, USA

War served, WW2
1 memorial
T. Dudley

T. Dudley

Resident of Willesden who volunteered and died in the Anglo Boer War, 1899-1900.

Person, Armed Forces, South Africa

War dead, Other war
1 memorial
Rifleman Walter Baker

Rifleman Walter Baker

Walter Baker was born on 11 December 1896, the youngest of the five children of Walter Baker (b. circa 1858) and Martha Baker née Hornreeve (b. circa 1859). His birth was registered in the 1st quar...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Vernon Boehle

Vernon Boehle

Major Vernon A. Boehle was born on 26 May 1915 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA, the second of the three sons of Arthur Anthony Boehle (1891-1971) and Elizabeth C. Boehle née Miller (18...

Person, Armed Forces, USA

War served, WW2
1 memorial

Previously viewed

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
Adrian Peter Francis Crotty

Adrian Peter Francis Crotty

Adrian Peter Francis Crotty was born in Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, Ireland, a son of Thomas Crotty (b.1917) and Rosaleen Crotty née King (b. c1920), his birth being registered in the 2nd quarter of...

Person, Tragedy, Ireland

1 memorial
St Pancras Way bridge - opened

St Pancras Way bridge - opened

NW1, St Pancras Way

In our photo this large plaque can be seen on the pier to the right of the railings. The foundation stone for the bridge had been laid j...

6 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Draycott Avenue war memorial

Draycott Avenue war memorial

SW3, Cadogan Street, Biddesden House

The memorial is hand-made and all the better for it.  The serif typeface is unique and ornate. Framed and boxed behind glass, the manuscr...

War dead | WW1
109 subjects commemorated
Clapham Sect

Clapham Sect

A group of evangelical Christians, who worshipped at Holy Trinity Church in Clapham and centred on William Wilberforce, who campaigned for the abolition of slavery and other religious, philanthropi...

Group, Philanthropy, Race Issues, Religion

4 memorials