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

G. Dean

G. Dean

Died serving in WW1. Member of the parish of Saint Olave and Saint John Southwark.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
R. H. Jenkins

R. H. Jenkins

Resident of the Central Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Colonel Algernon Sidney

Colonel Algernon Sidney

Opponent of King Charles II.  Born Baynard's Castle.  Exiled in Rome.  Returned in 1677 and was implicated in the Rye House Plot.  Beheaded on Tower Hill.

Person, Armed Forces, Execution, Politics & Administration, Italy

1 memorial
Frank A. Smith

Frank A. Smith

Resident of the Central Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
H. Moore

H. Moore

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

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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...

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402 memorials
Paul's Cross

Paul's Cross

Sermons had been preached at Paul's Cross since at least the 12th century. In 1449 Bishop Kemp had it rebuilt and it remained in that form until in 1643 the puritanical Long Parliament ordered its...

Building, Religion

2 memorials
Walter Crane

Walter Crane

Artist and book illustrator. Born Liverpool. Worked in the Arts and Crafts style, producing designs for decorative items such as ceramics and, most charmingly, illustrations for children's books. D...

Person, Art

2 memorials
King Henry III

King Henry III

Ascended throne in 1216, aged 9.  Son of King John.  Resurrected the Magna Carta.  Married Eleanor of Provence who became consort queen. Began the building of the current Westminster Abbey in 1245 ...

Person, Royalty

6 memorials
Tony Hancock

Tony Hancock

Comedy actor.  Otherwise known as Anthony Aloysius St. John Hancock, of 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam.  Born in Birmingham as Anthony John Hancock. He was a major figure in British television and...

Person, Humour, TV & Radio, Australia

6 memorials