HONOUR THE FALLEN

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2020 :: RMTnews 24 RMT Surrey and Hants branch and the Mid Hants Watercress heritage railway in Hampshire joined forces last year to remember two rail workers killed during World War Two by re- dedicating a Class 47 locomotive and a signal box in their memories. The Class 47 No 47579 locomotive was re-dedicated to Fireman James Nightall, awarded the George Cross and LNER Medal, and a plaque was placed on the Alresford signal box in memory of signalman Frank Bridges. Both men were killed in the early hours of June 2 1944 at Soham Station in Cambridgeshire when bombs destined to be dropped on Nazi Germany exploded creating a huge crater. The 51-wagon goods train was travelling between Whitemoor Yard and Ipswich. The train was conveying aircraft bombs and their components for the United States Army Airforce bound for White Colne. On the approach to Soham Station in Cambridgeshire, Driver Benjamin Gimbert observed that the leading wagon was on fire and knowing the contents of the train decided to stop the train and try and separate the burning wagon from the rest of the train. Upon stopping, his Fireman James Nightall uncoupled the train between the burning wagon and the rest of the train, and then attempted to take the burning wagon forward into open countryside. The movement had travelled about 140 yards when at 01:43 the contents of the wagon, 10 tons of unfused bombs, exploded in the station at Soham. Fireman James Nightall was killed instantly and Soham signalman Frank Bridges, who was on the platform to assist, was fatally wounded and died later in the day in hospital. Driver Benjamin Gimbert was blown from the locomotive, but whilst very badly injured miraculously survived. Guard Herbert Clarke, who having secured the train was walking forward to assist, was blown off HONOUR THE FALLEN Two rail workers killed while transporting bombs during World War Two honoured Fireman James Nightall of March depot, aged 22, was killed instantly in the explosion and awarded the George Cross and the LNER Medal Signalman Frank Bridges of Soham, aged 48. Died June 2, 1944 at White Lodge Emergency Hospital, Newmarket. Driver Benjamin Gimbert of March Depot, aged 41. He was thrown from the locomotive but survived and awarded the George Cross T H E D E F E AT O F F A S C I S M - 7 5 Y E A R S