The Ely Standard
and
Cambridgeshire Times
Friday June 9th 1944

Two Killed Uncoupling Blazing Wagon from Ammunition Train. -- The fireman of the train, James William Nightall aged 22, of 15, The Hythe, Littleport, was killed instantly; Signalman Frank Bridges aged 47, a local man, died later in the day from his injuries; and Driver Benjamin Gimbert aged 41, of 7, Estover road, March was taken to hospital with severe injuries.
While hundreds of houses in the town were damaged, and some 30 people were injured by flying glass, it would have been far more calamitous but for the superb courage of these men, whose devotion to duty saved the rest of the train and the town from complete and utter destruction.
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Sir Will Spens, the Regional Commissioner, visited the scene during the morning. He asked for a report on the gallantry of the three men, which will go to the Minister of Home Security with a recommendation that they be awarded the George Cross.
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STATION SWEPT FLAT. -- A huge crater was torn in the track, rails were twisted as if they were made of thin wire, the station was swept flat and the engine was thrown on to its side, a mass of twisted and buckled metal.
Fireman Nightall was killed immediately and signalman Bridges seriously hurt, was found lying about 12 yards away, near the pail of water which he had brought from his box. He died in hospital later in the day.
Driver Gimbert who was blown from the engine, was found wandering in a street of the town by two RAF. men. He was shaken and in spite of his magnificent physique (he weighs over 17 stones) he was almost exhausted through loss of blood from a bad wound in his arm. While the Airmen rendered first aid, Gilberts first thoughts were for his mate and the train, and he would not suffer himself to be removed to hospital until his inquiries had been satisfied. In addition to his arm, he was severely injured in the head and leg.
Gimbert told a relative who visited him in hospital, that his intention was to draw the blazing wagon clear of the town, and he said that if he had had another minute he would have done it.
Civil defence personnel, rescue parties, firemen and members of the home guard were quickly on the scene and no praise is too high for the quietly efficient manner in which they proceeded to help their stricken neighbours. 
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TRAPPED IN WRECKED HOUSES. -- Many people were trapped when their shattered homes collapsed around them, but there was no loss of life and surprisingly few serious casualties among the townspeople.
The station masters house was wrecked with the station, and the stationmaster, Mr. H. Oliver, his wife and 20 year old daughter Pat and his son, were trapped beneath the rubble. They were extracted by rescue workers and Mr. Oliver was taken to hospital suffering from concussion and shock. His wife and the children were treated for cuts and shock.
Others who were admitted to hospital suffering from severe cuts and shock were, Mr and Mrs A. Fuller and their married daughter, Mrs Constance Graham, who lived together, and Mrs Hobbs. About 20 other persons received minor injuries.
The gas works standing just outside the station, received the full force of the blast and fire broke out in one of the holders, to throw an eerie light upon an area which looked as if it had been blitzed. The blaze was tackled by the N.F.S. and the flames were extinguished, but not before the holder had been so badly damaged that it will be necessary to replace it. The other holder had a hole blown in the top while the works buildings were rather badly damaged. Fortunately it was still possible to produce gas and the supply was restored with the repairing of the holed container.
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THE EGGS ESCAPED. -- The Station Hotel, standing at the approach to the station yard, suffered badly and the licensee, Mr. W. Neal, and his wife had a narrow escape from serious injury.
Mr. Neal said. A terrible crash woke me up and I heard the noise of breaking glass all round. I sat up and stuck my head through the frame of the window which was lying on top of me, somehow or other I was not even cut. The missus had been blown out of bed and I found her underneath.
Mrs. Neal sustained cuts to both knees, but otherwise she was not badly hurt.
When they went to go downstairs they had to climb over window frames, plaster and broken glass. Downstairs they found that doors had been wrenched from their hinges and flung right across the rooms, the front was ripped of a valuable piano, and wood partitions had been torn down, and all the glasses behind the bar smashed to atoms.
In the pantry Mrs. Neal found that while her crockery had suffered very severely, not one of four dozen eggs was so much as cracked. A bottle of vinegar, too which had made a hurried descent from a top shelf to the floor was unbroken.
All the upstairs rooms have had to be cleared of furniture and as much as possible was stored in the large living room. It was in here that Mr. and Mrs. Neal slept on an improvised bed beneath the dining room table on Friday night.
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NO BEER. -- In spite of their misfortune they were like their neighbours, wonderfully cheerful about it all and agreed that it might have been worse.
Their chief grouse was that they were out of beer and were unable to do their duty by their customers, ''Thank goodness it didn't happen about 9 o clock in the evening when the bar was full of customers.'' commented Mr. Neal.
Stored in one of the rooms of the hotel was the furniture of a woman who had been blasted out of her home earlier in the war.
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BITS AND PIECES. -- A piece of metal weighing about three pounds crashed through the roof into the bedroom where Mr. and Mrs Talbot were sleeping and struck Mrs Talbot on the arm.
In a garden of a house nearly half a mile from the station was found a length of railway metal weighing nearly a cwt. During the closing stages of its flight it demolished part of a wall and came to rest in the garden just missing the house.
A piece of masonry went through the roof of a hall some distance from the scene of the explosion and a lump of concrete weighing over 2cwt, part of the station platform was found in a garden a quarter of a mile away.
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OVER 600 BUILDINGS AFFECTED. -- Information has been issued by the local wardens that all persons who have lost gas masks as the result of the tragedy can have them replaced tomorrow (Saturday) evening, from 6 o'clock at the Wardens Post.
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SALUTE WEEK POSTPONED. -- The tragic event has resulted in the postponement of the town's Salute the Soldier campaign, which was to have been held this week. That this has been adjourned for at least three weeks is the official information received at the time of going to press.
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DRIVER GIMBERT'S GRAPHIC STORY

'' I Knew We Had To Hurry ''
Driver Ben Gimbert, lying heavily bandaged in bed in hospital gave, in an interview, a graphic description of the dramatic minutes just before the wagon blew up.
His first words were about his mate, Jim Nightall, who he said died doing his duty as coolly as any older more experienced man. ''Sailor'' Bridges, the dead signalman was the same.
''Jim and I were on the footplate as we approached the station where the explosion happened,'' he went on. ''Looking back along the train I saw flames coming from the bottom of the first bomb truck.
''I never thought so clearly or quickly before. I knew that if I stopped the train with a jerk all the 51 trucks of ammunition might explode. It had to be a smooth pull up without any banging about. I told myself I had to keep calm and I brought the train to a standstill.

''Didn't Turn A Hair''
''As we stopped I shouted to my mate to uncouple the wagons, and to take the coal hammer with him in case the coupling was hot. Nightall didn't turn a hair and didn't hesitate or ask any questions. He jumped straight down on the track and I ran round to help him.
''Sailor'' Bridges came out of his signal box and ran to help us. In a minute the train was uncoupled. I started the engine again, pulling the burning wagon behind me. Jim was by my side. The flames were quite high around the wagon by then and I knew that we had to hurry.
''Everything was so peaceful and still. The town was in darkness and I thought of all the sleeping women and kids - and the 50 trucks of bombs behind us.

''Must Stick To The Engine''
''I thought I must stick to the engine until I could get clear of the town and I was just opening the throttle when I remembered that the mail express was almost due on the line.
''What I did next may have saved my life. Going to the right of my cab I shouted to signalman Frank to stop the mail while I got clear.
''He began running to his box, and I remember turning back to the engine, looking at the fire and starting to pull off away from the station. I knew those bombs were due to explode.
''That was all I remember. Next I was staggering about a roadway some distance from the track, and I felt a lot of pain. A soldier came up to me. I asked him about my mate Jim Nightall and told him to stop the mail train. The next thing I knew I was in hospital.
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THE MEN. -- Fireman James William Nightall (22),  the only son of Mr. and Mrs Walter Nightall of 15. The Hythe, Littleport was shortly to have been married. The night before his death he was to have met his fiancée - 20 year old Edna Belson of Peterborough, but she was working and could not get away. Of a quite assuming nature, Fireman Nightall was absolutely fearless. He was upset when the railway would not release him to join the Army. His school-days were spent at the Littleport Town Boy's School, and before working on the L.N.E. line, he was employed by Mr. Jim Kerridge, the Littleport chicken farmer.

Signalman Frank Chas Copeland Bridges (47) leaves a widow and two sons - Dennis, who is working in the mines, and Gordon. The eldest  son, George was killed in Sicily in August Inst.
Signalman Bridges had been signalman at the town where he met such a tragic end for five years. Prior to that he sat service at Wisbech, where he was in charge of the Elm Road signal box. A man with a wide circle of friends, he was a very popular Sergeant in the local Home Guard.

Driver Benjamin Gimbert is  41 years of age and lives at 7 Estover Road March. He is married and has 2 daughters aged 16 and 17.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Gimbert of Sutton, he started work on the railway at the age of 16 years, working his way up from cleaner to driver. The greater part of his career has been spent in March, where he is very popular, particularly among his workmates.
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Council and Train Drivers Action. -- Reference to the Cambs railway explosion tragedy was made at Mondays meeting of the March Urban District Council, when it was resolved that the appropriate authorities attention be brought to the action of the driver of the train. Mr. Benjamin Gimbert of Estover Road, March, with a view of his bravery being recognised.
The matter was raised by the Chairman, Mr. H. H. Truman, who said that one of the chief heroes in the occurrence was a citizen of March, who was not only a credit to humanity but was honoured by the town. He suggested that the attention of the authorities be drawn to Mr. Gimberts action.
The Council unanimously supported the suggestion.
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GOOD NEIGHBOURS. -- And how did the inhabitants of this small town face up to this terrifying experience which came to them in the small hours of the morning ?. The answer is in the best traditions of a people who have shown that they can take it. Shocked and dazed though they were by the suddenness of the blow, there was no suggestion of panic, and with true spirit of good neighbours, people whose homes had suffered little, quickly set about doing what they could to help those who were less fortunate. About 100 persons were rendered homeless and many of these were taken in by friends. Others were accommodated in a school which was turned into a rest centre and where they were fed and housed.
The organisation as a whole was admirable and one could not help but be impressed by the way in which the incident was handled.
The wardens and first aid parties, among the first on the scene, did a grand job of work, and it was not long before the whole civil defence organisation was working smoothly and efficiently. Mobile kitchens arrived from a neighbouring town, and soon there were hot meals for those who needed them, an information centre was set up to advise those who were in difficulties, lorries and other conveyances were provided for removing furniture from shattered houses to storage places. Members of the Home Guard assisted in furniture removing in addition to forming a cordon round the most severely damaged areas, armies of workmen magically appeared to tackle a pretty big job of patching up smashed roofs and covering up gaping spaces where windows had once been, while the Police were courteous and helpful. A Ministry of Information loud speaker van was on duty from 6 a.m. till 8 p.m. issuing instructions to those who had been blasted out of their homes.
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COUNCIL CHAIRMAN'S TRIBUTE. -- The following tribute from the Chairman of the Rural District Council and the Parish Council of the devastated town has been received for publication.
On behalf of the inhabitants we wish to convey our thanks to everyone for the invaluable help and sympathy which has been given and shown to them in the terrible disaster which has fallen on the town. No words of ours can describe the gratitude of the people for the assistance given by all the Civil Defences, the Emergency Organisations of the surrounding district, the chairman and members of a neighbouring Council for the assistance given by their Surveyor, and other officials. We also appreciate the practical and sympathetic help which is coming from the neighbouring villages and private subscribers to the Tribute and Relief Fund which has been opened for the benefit of the dependants of the heroic men, two of whom have given their lives, an act which it is believed has prevented a much more terrible disaster to the town, and been the means of saving from personnel injuries many of those who have suffered other losses and been rendered homeless.
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LINES OPEN THE SAME NIGHT. -- One of the most remarkable achievements was that of the men whose job it was to clear the railway. With the coming of daylight the scene of the explosion was one of utter devastation. When a railway official voiced the hope that the line would be open by the evening it looked pretty hopeless, but that official knew what he was talking about.
As soon as it was daylight, repair gangs were on the job and while a breakdown crane was removing the shattered engine, coloured American troops with bulldozers made short work of filling in the huge crater. By the afternoon this had been completed and the evening saw new tracks laid between the heaps of rubble which, a few hours before, had been a station. And the line was again in operation, a truly remarkable achievement, and a tribute to railway efficiency.
The demolished buildings were replaced by temporary offices housed in a railway coach.
Widespread damage was caused in the town. Houses near the station were demolished, others in adjoining streets had their roofs ripped off, and doors and windows blown in, while shops in the main street nearly a mile from the scene of the explosion, lost their windows.
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PRAM UNDER FRONT DOOR. -- Mr and Mrs Long who with their two children, aged eight and three years, were awakened by the explosion, found that their small bungalow home was a wreck. Mrs Long said, ''I woke up wondering what on earth had happened, and feeling quite dazed, I went to get out of bed, and found to my astonishment that I could not find the floor with my feet. Then I discovered that I was on top of a chest of draws. We proceeded to sort ourselves out and found that nobody was hurt. The children were wonderful, they never cried once. I grabbed my clothes and my handbag and tried to find the pram to put the kiddies in. I eventually discovered it beneath the front door, which had been blown in. We at length managed to get out and I got dressed on the green.''
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THE HENS CAME HOME. -- Then there is the story of two hens. A woman whose house was severely damaged scrambled out without so much as a scratch and proceeded to do her best to sort things out. The owner of a couple of hens. She went into the garden to see how they had fared: they were nowhere to be seen. She had resigned herself to the loss when, later in the day, one of the birds turned up to have a look around and went away again. Shortly afterwards the second also came to see what all the fuss was about and then left. Still later in the day both returned home, and one obligingly laid an egg.
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WORK OF THE W.V.S.-- Among the many voluntary organisations which rallied round to assist the people of the stricken town were the W.V.S.  and they have done some grand work under their local organiser, Mrs. Fisk. Among other things they undertook the feeding and housing of the homeless in the school, where about 40 took advantage of the facilities provided. The remainder, some 60 in number, were put up by friends and relations in the town.
The last meals were served in the school rest centre at 1 p.m. on Sunday, and the members of the W.V.S. cleaned up the building and put it straight and handed it back to the school on Monday, when lessons were resumed.
On Monday all the homeless people had been found accommodation in the town.
Mrs. Fisk spoke of the great work which had been done by the Queen's Messengers Flying Squad and a Y.M.C.A. unit in providing meals.
Many people lost their clothes and ration books, and the W.V.S. have been issued with 2000 emergency clothing coupons in order to help in the worst cases. The Baptist Chapel was placed at the disposal of the ladies as a clothing centre, and on Monday some 15 families were completely fitted out with new clothes.
The ''Derby Sketch'' has sent a parcel of clothing from its War Relief Fund.
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THE INQUEST OPENED

''Tributes to the Two Victims''

The inquest on the two railwaymen who gave their lives was opened on Monday afternoon and adjourned to a suitable date after evidence of identification had been taken.
The inquiry was conducted by the Deputy Coroner for the district.
Evidence of identification was given by Alice Susan Nightall of 15. The Hythe Littleport, mother of James Wm Nightall, who lived at 54. Hundred Road, March, and by Frank Wright Copeland, of 14 Ruby Street, Wisbech, father of Frank Chas. Copeland Bridges.
Mr. F.C. Scott. representing the L.N.E. Railway Company , said he was instructed on behalf of the Company to express their sympathy with the relatives of the two men who unfortunately lost their lives, and their sympathy with the people who had been rendered homeless through the tragic event.
He was asked also, to express on behalf of the Company the highest possible tribute to the railwaymen concerned. Their devotion to duty under what they must have known were dangerous circumstances was deserving of the greatest possible praise. They attempted in the best possible way to reduce what was a most serious matter, and that they did not succeed was not their fault.
The Deputy Coroner said that everyone who knew what had happened would appreciate all that Mr. Scott. had said, ''No praise can be to high for these brave men who gave their lives,'' he observed.
A police representative also associated himself with the remarks which had been made.
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THE TOWN REMEMBERED

Church Crowded for Thanksgiving Service.
The Parish Church was crowded on Sunday evening when the townspeople assembled to join in a united service of thanksgiving for the deliverance of the town and to pay homage to the heroes who gave their lives.
The great congregation included representatives of the Home Guard, Army Cadets, Rescue Party, St. John Ambulance, Red Cross, N.F.S., G.T.C., A.T.C.,  the Parish Council, Civil Defence and other public organisations of the town.
United choirs led the singing, and the organist played as a voluntary, ''Blest are the departed'' (Spohr). The opening hymn ''O God Our help in Ages past,'' was reverently sung.
The Vicar stated that the ministers of the town readily agreed to assist in a united service of thankfulness and remembrance.
During the past week, he went on, many had been spared from disaster. The disruption of family life was difficult to restore, but they thanked God for those who so nobly and quickly responded to the call of duty.
The Vicar mentioned that steady progress was being made by the injured.
The lessons were read by the Baptist Minister, and the Congregational Minister led the prayers.
The other hymns chosen were ''Hark, hark my Soul'' and ''The King of Love my Shepherd is.''

''GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN''

The preacher took as his text, ''Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'' Referring to the tragedy, he said they all owed their lives to the gallantry and heroism of a few men who had made this supreme sacrifice. Paying tribute to other heroes of the past - Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain - he said it was difficult to see, as to people, what God wanted of us as a nation. God had something for individuals to do in this little world among and for the people

It was difficult, said the preacher to understand it all, but the fact remained that amid all the devastation, courage and self sacrifice had revealed itself as prominently as that displayed on the field of battle, in the air and on the sea.
The call to duty had been obeyed and in response the supreme sacrifice had been made, men had lay down their lives for their friends, and by so doing had done a noble deed and saved many others. They were met that evening to pay honour to the dead - it was right they should do so but there was a more important fact to consider. A disaster had occurred in their midst, yet they had been spared. Was there not a reason for all this. Surely there was some Divine purpose behind it all, and he could not help thinking that to those who remained came the further call to duty as clear as ever. God had still something for them to do, both as a nation and as individuals.

The price paid by these men was indeed worthy of their deep gratitude and thankfulness and an incentive for individual service.
As the offertory was being taken, the hymn ''Through the night of doubt and sorrow.'' was sung and the service closed with the National Anthem and the Benediction.
The offering amounted to £19.4s.4d.

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