James William Nightall
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Railwayman James William Nightall was posthumously awarded the George Cross for the gallantry he showed during a train accident in Soham in Cambridgeshire. An LNER Fireman on a 51 wagon ammunition train train driven by Gimbert, he helped Gimbert uncouple a burning wagon from the rest of the train. The wagon exploded, killing Nightall instantly, blowing a twenty foot crater in the track and destroying Soham railway station. 600 buildings in the village were damaged. Driver Benjamin Gimbert, who miraculously survived the conflagration, was also awarded the George Cross.
On 28 September 1981 two Class 47 locomotives were named in honour of the two railwaymen: No. 47577 was named "Benjamin Gimbert, GC" and No. 47579 "James Nightall, GC". [1]
