One of the lesser-known, perhaps, yet still very important, effects of World War II was the business of running more than one "government-in-exile" based in the United Kingdom.
And it is one aspect of this business that has been commemorated heraldically in the halls of the Supreme Court of the UK building.
The photgraph above is an overview of what we're going to look at today.
The arched frame in the center we have seen before; it contains the arms of the County of Middlesex.
The document in the square frame on the right explains what is being commemorated here:
"In Commemoration of the first authorization by the British Parliament of the establishment in the United Kingdome by the Allied and Associated Foreign Powers during the World War of Maritime Courts for the trail of offences committed by person other than British subjects, and in acknowledgment of the value and the valour of the great contribution made by these nations to the common cause notwithstanding the tragic misfortunes which had overtaken their native lands."
Flanking the text on the left is, of course, the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom, and along the bottom, the saltire of St. Andrew (for Scotland), the cross of St. George (for England), and the saltire of St. Patrick (for Ireland).
The document in the square frame on the left contains the arms of these "Allied and Associated Foreign Powers", governments in exile:
In the center are the arms of the Republic of Poland;* in the upper left, the arms of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; in the upper right, the arms of the Kingdom of Norway; in the lower left, the arms of the Kingdom of Belgium; and in the lower right, the arms of the Kingdom of Greece.
How fitting that these special Maritime Courts are commemorated in the halls of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
How much better that they are commemorated heraldically.
* In relation to one of my other big historical interests, airplanes and airmen in World War II, there were some sixteen Polish squadrons who flew with the Royal Air Force. Of particular note are 302 Squadron and 303 Squadron, who fought with distinction in the Battle of Britain.
