Three generations of Soham family attend ceremony at March

Friends of March Railway Station have spent some time working on a tribute to two local heroes of the wartime railway.

Last month, the volunteers, who help keep the station looking its best,  worked to create two new planters set on sleepers and rails to house two Class 47 planters at the end of the platform.

The planters were named to commemorate train driver Benjamin Gimbert and fireman  James Nightall, who both received the George Cross medal for their bravery following the Soham Rail Disaster, which happened on June 2, 1944.

Gillian Barnes (right) and Jenny Amps unveil the plaque to remember their grandfather Benjamin Gimbert. (Image: Mandy Ward/Friends of March Railway Station) They were recognised for saving an ammunition train from a fire. Nightall was killed in the disaster that happened at Soham station when a train carrying explosives and bombs exploded.

Gimbert was seriously injured in the explosion, which could have been much worse if the heroic duo had not acted so swiftly to try to move the train out of the station.

On Sunday, August 4, members of  Ben Gimbert's family joined volunteers and others at March station to unveil a plaque in memory of the brave men.

The plaque was unveiled by Gillian Barnes and Jenny Amps, two of Ben's grand-daughters, as other family members watched on.

Three generations of the Gimbert attended the unveiling of the commemorative plaque. (Image: Mandy Ward/Friends of March Railway Station) In total, three generations of the Gimbert family were present at the ceremony, including great grandson, Benjamin, great grand-daughters Julie and Hayley-Marie and great, great grand-children Evie and Jacob.

The plaque has been placed alongside the two replica Class 47 locomotives that have been planted up to commemorate the heroic actions taken by the men that night which ultimately saved the town of Soham from being destroyed by the explosion which was caused by a fire breaking out in one of the wagons.

The train had departed from Whitemoor Yard at March earlier that night before disaster struck.

Although Soham station was destroyed in the blast, the situation could have been far worse had it not been for the quick thinking and brave actions taken by the two men to uncouple the burning wagon from the other fifty on the train, thereby avoiding an even bigger explosion that would have wiped out the entire town of Soham.

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The Friends of March Railway Station created the planters that are named after the two war heroes. (Image: Mandy Ward/Friends of March Railway Station) The Friends of March Railway Station also held a very special running day in the Community Model Railway, with models of both the Class 47s and Class 66 locos on display, that have previously been named Benjamin Gimbert G.C. and James Nightall G.C. to honour both men.

A spokesperson for the friends said: "The Gimbert family were all very grateful to the group for inviting them along to honour the memory and bravery of their ancestor and the volunteers are pleased so many of the family were able to attend."