James Nightall

Who was James Nightall?

Railwayman James William Nightall GC was posthumously awarded the George Cross for the gallantry he showed during the Soham rail disaster. Nightall was a LNER Fireman on a fifty-one wagon ammunition train driven by Benjamin Gimbert. When the wagon caught fire, Nightall helped Gimbert uncouple it from the rest of the train. The wagon exploded, killing Nightall instantly. The explosion blew a twenty foot crater in the track, destroyed Soham railway station and damaged 600 buildings in the village. Gimbert, who miraculously survived the conflagration, was also awarded the George Cross.