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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 fiancee - 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.

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.