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

King Canute / Cnut

King Canute / Cnut

King of Denmark, England and Norway. Also known as Cnut Sweynsson or Cnut the Great. His supposed attempt to turn back the waves, was not arrogance on his part, but to show his fawning courtiers th...

Person, Armed Forces, Royalty, Denmark

1 memorial
S. Hills

S. Hills

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
F. Watts

F. Watts

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
W. H. Rickwood

W. H. Rickwood

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

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John Wesley

John Wesley

Founder of the Methodist denomination of the Protestant religion. Born Epworth rectory, near Lincoln. Was a Church of England clergyman and at Whitsuntide, May 1738, 3 days after his brother, Charl...

Person, Religion, Seriously Famous

13 memorials
Queen Elizabeth II Field - N1

Queen Elizabeth II Field - N1

N1, Cloudesley Road, Culpeper Community Garden

{Around the top edge:} Queen Elizabeth II Field {In the centre, below the royal crest:} Diamond Jubilee 2012 {Around the lower edge:} F...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Theatre Royal Stratford East

Theatre Royal Stratford East

designed by architect James George Buckle in 1884. From WW1 onwards it endured periods of closure until Joan LIttlewood arrived with her Theatre Workshop Company in 1953. The image shows the theatr...

Group, Theatre

1 memorial
Buxton water trough - Enfield

Buxton water trough - Enfield

EN1, Forty Hill

{On one end:} The gift of J. H. Buxton, 1879 {On both sides:} Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Jane Austen

Jane Austen

Jane Austen, novelist of 6 major novels including Pride and Prejudice. Born: Steventon, Hampshire. Died: Winchester, Hampshire. For all Austen-related London locations see Londonist. A statue was u...

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous

3 memorials