War Heroes to be Honoured in Stone

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At 02.55 on 1 June 1944, a train left Immingham for White Colne, Essex with a load of ammunition for the United States Air Force, stopping at March on its journey.

During the early hours of 2nd June and while passing through the town of Soham, Cambridgeshire, flames were seen coming from one of the wagons. The driver of the train, Benjamin Gimbert, stopped the train so that his fireman James Nighthall, could uncouple the other wagons for Mr. Gimbert to get it out of the area and for the safety of villagers. Sadly, it was too late and within a very short time, the ammunition in the wagon exploded, causing a huge crater in the track, at the same time as killing both Mr. Nighthall and Signalman Frank Bridges. Mr. Gimbert was blasted some distance away and seriously injured, while the train Guard, Herbert Clarke suffered severe shock. As well as Mr. Gimbert, five local residents were also taken to hospital with serious injuries, including the Soham Station Master who had been pinned under his bed, following the collapse of the house. Exactly when the George Cross was awarded to these men, I don't at this time have the details, but sure somebody will oblidge, if I don't get them. There is a book relating to this and it makes superb reading.

For further details of this now famous incident, please visit the website www.soham.org.uk and access the page.

At a Naming Ceremony which took place on 28 September 1981 and at March station, two class 47 locomotives being 577 and 579 respectively, were named in honour of driver Benjamin Gimbert GC and James Nighthall GC. Some years later, I got to travel behind 47 577 from Ely to Carlisle across the famous Settle - Carlisle line, often got to see 47 579 working between Kings Lynn and Liverpool Street, before having the honour of working behind this loco after starting work on the railway as a Guard and in 1990.

Some years later, the plates were removed from these loco's and then at the opening of the new 'Whitemoor Yard' in March on 02 June 2004 and 60 years after that historic event, two EWS Class 66 diesel locomotives, numbered 077 and 079 respectively, were then named Benjamin Gimbert GC and James Nighthall GC again. Sadly, both Benjamin Gimbert GC and Herbert Clarke passed away in 1976.

Now, the town of Soham has won a Grant to honour all four men involved in that fateful night, not by way of naming more locomotives, but in stone. All four Heroes of the event are currently having their efforts being inscribed in some special stone and rightly so, because these four men were 'Special Heroes'. As soon as I get the whereabouts of these being placed and unveiled, I will place details on here.

If ever anybody reading this gets to visit the town of Littleport, Nr. Ely, go to the library as there is a plaque on the corner that honours these men and I understand both Benjamin Gimbert and Herbert Clark are buried in the local Churchyard, not too far away.