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not remove the burning vehicle the whole of the train, which consisted of 51 wagons of explosives, would have blown up, they risked their lives in order to minimise the effect of the fire. There is no doubt that if the whole train had been involved, as it would have been but for the gallant action of the men concerned, there would have been serious loss of life and property.
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enveloped in flames and, realising the danger, the driver instructed the fireman to try to uncouple the truck immediately behind the blazing vehicle. Without the slightest hesitation
Nightall, although he knew that the truck contained explosives, uncoupled the vehicle and rejoined his driver on the footplate.
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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". The nameplate "Benjamin Gimbert GC" was transferred to 47 574 in July 1987 at Stratford depot. It remained on this locomotive for 10
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As an ammunition train was pulling into a station in
Cambridgeshire, the driver, Gimbert, discovered that the wagon next to the engine was on fire. He immediately drew Nightall's attention to the fire and brought the train to a standstill. By the time the train had stopped the whole of the truck was
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Gimbert and
Nightall were fully aware of the contents of the wagon which was on fire and displayed outstanding courage and resource in endeavouring to isolate it. When they discovered that the wagon was on fire they could easily have left the train and sought shelter, but realising that if they did
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The blazing van was close to the station buildings and was obviously liable to endanger life in the village. The driver and fireman realised that it was essential to separate the truck from the remainder of the train and run it into the open. Driver
Gimbert set the engine in motion and as he
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approached a signal box he warned the signalman to stop any trains which were likely to be involved and indicated what he intended to do. Almost immediately the vehicle blew up. Nightall was killed and
Gimbert was very severely injured.
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Gimbert died on 6 May 1976 and was buried in
Eastwood Cemetery in March. In 1984, his medals were bought by March Town Council and are on permanent loan to March Museum alongside some shrapnel removed from his body.
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159:, Gimbert was recognised for saving an ammunition train from a fire on 2 June 1944 during the
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newspaper, and the LNER's silver medal for
Courage and Resource. In 1953 he received the
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334:"BBC – A History of the World – Object : George Cross awarded to Ben Gimbert"
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Memorial tablet in St
Andrews Church, Soham to James Nightall and Benjamin Gimbert
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years. On 2 June 2004 new "Benjamin
Gimbert GC" nameplates were applied to
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143:(6 February 1903 – 6 May 1976) was a British engine driver with the
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16:Engine driver involved in the Soham rail disaster
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352:"March and District Museum -Inside the Museum"
491:Recipients of the Order of Industrial Heroism
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319:(Supplement). 25 July 1944. p. 3457.
195:The citation for the award of Gimbert's
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171:Gimbert was born on 6 February 1903 in
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395:Encyclopedia of Modern Traction Names
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220:, a private civil award given by the
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486:People from March, Cambridgeshire
145:London and North Eastern Railway
97:London and North Eastern Railway
481:People from Ely, Cambridgeshire
446:2 June 1944 Soham Rail Disaster
242:"Benjamin Gimbert GC" (66 077)
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267:617 (MX55WCV) after Gimbert.
216:Gimbert was also awarded the
147:and a recipient of both the
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153:Order of Industrial Heroism
126:Order of Industrial Heroism
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501:Burials in Cambridgeshire
285:"GC Awards to Railwaymen"
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377:GC Awards to Railwaymen
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86:March, Cambridgeshire
73:March, Cambridgeshire
155:. Alongside fireman
161:Soham rail disaster
108:Soham rail disaster
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410:: 68. August 2004.
382:2013-06-04 at the
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259:(March). Also the
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423:Missing or empty
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67:(1976-05-06)
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466:1976 deaths
461:1903 births
311:"No. 36623"
265:Optare Solo
455:Categories
362:5 November
271:References
167:Early life
92:Occupation
65:6 May 1976
46:1903-02-06
234:Memorials
75:, England
56:, England
380:Archived
253:Class 66
151:and the
106:Hero of
295:2 March
255:077 at
199:reads:
114:Awards
177:March
429:help
364:2011
297:2017
62:Died
40:Born
173:Ely
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