James Nightall


Railwayman James William Nightall was posthumously awarded the George Cross and the Order of Industrial Heroism 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 a 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 and Order of Industrial Heroism.

Early life

Nightall was born in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, England, on 20 May 1922. He was the son of Walter Nightall, a labourer, and Alice Nightall.
He had a fiancee when he died, Edna Belson.

Awards

The citation for the award of the George Cross read as:
Nightall was also awarded the Order of Industrial Heroism.

Memorials

On 28 September 1981 two Class 47 locomotives were named in honor of the two railwaymen: No. 47577 was named "Benjamin Gimbert, GC" and No. 47579 "James Nightall, GC".
The nameplate "James Nightall G.C" was removed in November 1995. The loco was preserved in March 2007 and is at Mangapps Railway Museum. On 2 June 2004, new "James Nightall G.C" nameplates were applied to 66 079 at Whitemoor yard.