The ritualistic parading and burning of effigies is something we tend to associate with bonfire night, or Guy Fawkes’ night, and in particular with the annual parade at Lewes in East Sussex when effigies of ‘Enemies of the Bonfire’ are drawn through the streets before being burnt on bonfires. While researching VE Day celebrations in the West Country, I was surprised to come across numerous references to effigies of Hitler being hanged, burnt, and buried in Somerset and Dorset during the celebrations that took place on or around the 8th May 1945. It should be noted that this list is by no means exhaustive and that similar events took place nationwide.
Dorset
Cerne Abbas: ‘A large bonfire was lit on The Giant and ‘Hitler’ burnt.‘ (Western Gazette, 18 May 1945)
Evershot: ‘At 9.30 pm a large crowd gathered on “Bar” for the bonfire lit by Lady Stavordale. Proceedings were enlivened by singing popular songs and giving ringing cheers for the Services and concluding with “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem. An effigy of Hitler, life size, was made by Mr A. Willis, Standard Bearer of the British Legion. This was mounted on the top of the bonfire and its final collapse in flames was greeted with loud applause.’ (Western Gazette, 18 May 1945)
Gillingham: ‘On VE Day victory bells were rung at intervals throughout the day, and the town presented an animated scene, the gaily decorated streets being filled with happy townspeople… A short service was held at St Mary’s, and on Wednesday evening a large bonfire was made at Lodbourne, when the effigy of Hitler was burnt.’ (Western Gazette, 18 May 1945)
Sherborne: On VE Day, school boys built a huge bonfire (20 feet high) on West Hill. After tea they ‘lit the bonfire with great ceremony and placed on top effigies of Hitler, Musso, and Himmler, filled with thunder flashes and blanks, which as the flames rose went off with resounding bangs. When we had listened to the King’s speech at 9 pm we went home.’ (Sherborne School Archives)
Somerset
Bath: ‘From morn till night, great crowds were everywhere, watching impromptu fancy dress processions, taking part in impromptu singing, watching effigies of Hitler consumed by flames in more and more parts of the city.’ (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 12 May 1945)
Bath, Innox Park Housing Estate: ‘In the evening a procession in fancy dress, and “that man” was burnt on a huge bonfire.’ (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 19 May 1945)
Beckington: ‘In the evening members of the Youth Club, in all sorts of costumes, paraded the village to the Recreation Ground, where an effigy of Hitler was burnt on a bonfire, around which a large gathering of exuberant people danced and sang.’ (Somerset Standard, 18 May 1945)
Bishop’s Hull: ‘Two lads of the village, William Guppy and Trevor Whitfield, organised a bonfire on VE Day and made an effigy of Hitler which was consigned to the flames. A large number of spectators who were present contributed to a collection for the Red Cross, and as a result £1 16s was raised and has been forwarded to headquarters.’ (Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 12 May 1945)
Bridgwater: ‘A delightful spectacle was presented by the children’s fancy dress procession in the afternoon, about 350 to 400 young people taking part in costumes of every hue and shade. Topical entries were very numerous and amusing, especially good being “The Big Three”, Hitler on the Gallows, the Portal House, Miss Victory, &c. Organised by the local teachers, the parade assembled at Eastover Council School… One of the last and most dramatic acts of a memorable series of events was the burning of Hitler on the huge bonfire in St Matthew’s Field on Wednesday night. Customers of the Bristol Hotel had made a double-size, lifelike effigy of the Fuehrer, and this was carried in procession to the sounds of a hunting horn and a bell, followed by surging crowds, from King Square to the Fair Field, where it was cast into the midst of the flames to the great delight of the great ring of people present. Afterwards many young folk joined hands and danced around the fire.’ (Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 12 May 1945)
Cannington: ‘In the evening an effigy of “Hitler” was burnt on a bonfire, which had been lighted by Mr Incledon Webber.’ (Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 19 May 1945)
Frome: ‘In many instances there have been bonfires, with the burning of effigies of Hitler and other Nazi leaders and in one case, at least, the crowd became so excited that they tore to pieces an effigy of Hitler before it could reach the bonfire prepared for it!’ (Somerset Standard, 18 May 1945)
Henstridge: ‘In 1945, VJ Day passed without special celebrations, and VE Day, though many in the district watched the effigy of Hitler, with flares in his pockets, burn on a huge bonfire down at the Henstridge Air Station.’ (Ernest Roscoe (ed.), The Marn’ll Book (Gillingham, The Blackmore Press, originally published in 1952, facsimile edition printed in 1981, p.142)
Larkhall: ‘In Dafford Street an effigy of Hitler was stoned on VE night and burned on Wednesday night. Here, too dancers enjoyed themselves to music supplied by a number of tireless musicians.’ Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 12 May 1945)
Monkton Coombe: ‘Big bonfires were lighted… a life size effigy of the arch enemy was hoisted over the flames of the bonfire, and, to volleys of blanks fired by the village boys, toasts were drunk to all the national leaders.’ (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 19 May 1945)
Milborne Port: ‘In a tree by the roadside between Milborne Port and Charlton Horethorne, Hitler was hanging in effigy, with an appropriate inscription fastened to a limb of the tree.’ (Western Gazette, 11 May 1945)
Nether Stowey: ‘At the Mount there was a big bonfire, and effigies of several notorious people were burnt, including Hitler’s coffin, the contents being doubtful.’ (Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 19 May 1945)
North Curry: ‘On VE Day Mr C. Trenchard made an effigy of Hitler which was carried around the village by Mr M.H. Stevens, Mr C. Trenchard and Mr Maurice Derham, and a collection made for the Welcome Home Fund.’ (Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 19 May 1945)
North Petherton: ‘There were many bonfires, and effigies of Hitler were burned.’ (Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 12 May 1945)
Street: ‘Hitler’s Funeral Pyre… An effort was made on Saturday afternoon to raise money for the “Welcome Home” Fund. The event attracted a large crowd of spectators, who watched the procession and then made their way to the Victoria Field, where the ceremony of burning Hitler at a stake was carried out with due ceremony. The funeral procession, which started at the West End, had a tableau depicting Britannia, and there were three Bands. Chief attraction was the ancient Street hearse drawn by three piebald horses and a coffin inscribed with the Dictator’s name, etc., that contained an effigy of Hitler. The top of the hearse was packed by the bearers, Service men, when the procession arrived at the field, with the Band playing solemn music. The Chairman of the Street Branch, British Legion, gave the funeral oration, and when the corpse was taken from the coffin, duly bespattered with inflammable liquid, a light was set to the funeral pyre, and in the words of the President, “Hitler was sent to that place most fitting”.‘ (Central Somerset Gazette, 18 May 1945)
Taunton: ‘Two parties in the Trinity Ward on Saturday gave delight to everyone… A bonfire, on which an effigy of Hitler, was burnt, and this was followed by community singing.’ (Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 19 May 1945)
Taunton: ‘More children’s street parties to celebrate VE Day have been held at Rowbarton and in other parts of Taunton during the past week. Teas have been followed by community singing and dancing, and effigies of Hitler have been burned. The children and adult helpers thoroughly enjoyed themselves.’ (Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 26 May 1945)
Twerton: ‘In High Street an effigy of Hitler dangled grotesquely. It was suspended from a length of cord which stretched across the street. On a telegraph post a few yards away was another effigy.’ (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 12 May 1945)
Rachel Hassall
May 2020
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