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

T. Sexton

T. Sexton

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
Doctor Stephen Charles Gold, MD, FRCP

Doctor Stephen Charles Gold, MD, FRCP

Dermatologist and author. He wrote 'A Biographical History of British Dermatology'. Our Picture Source and his obituary confirm he served during WW2 in the Royal Army Medical Corps for four years ...

Person, Armed Forces, Literature, Medicine

1 memorial
W. A. Tweed

W. A. Tweed

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
Sir Arthur Harris, "Bomber Harris"

Sir Arthur Harris, "Bomber Harris"

Marshal of the Royal Air Force BT, GCB, OBE, AFC. Born Cheltenham. Died at home at Goring-on-Thames. Appointed Commander-in-Chief, Bomber Command in 1942. He quickly made his command very success...

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial
S. C. Higham

S. C. Higham

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Denis Johnson

Denis Johnson

In 1819, made and sold Britain's first bicycle in its hobby-horse form. As a coachmaker Johnson was able to make significant improvements to the two-wheel velocipede, as invented by von Drais. He o...

Person, Commerce, Engineering

1 memorial
Guardian Angels Church & School

Guardian Angels Church & School

The church on the Mile End Road was opened in 1903, the school, shown in this picture, behind the church, in 1896. Both funded by the Howard Family of Norfolk.

Building, Education, Property, Religion

1 memorial
St Margaret, Fish Street Hill

St Margaret, Fish Street Hill

EC3, Monument Street

2021: We noticed that the site has been rebuilt and the plaque (now slightly damaged, but our photo does not show that) positioned on the...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator