Ben Gimbert

Benjamin Gimbert GC (6 February 1903 - 6 May 1976), an engine driver with the LNER was awarded the George Cross, as was his fireman James Nightall, whose award was posthumous, for saving an ammunition train from a fire on 2nd June 1944.

As an ammunition train, composed of 51 wagons, was pulling into Soham Rail Station in Cambridgeshire, Driver Gimbert discovered that the wagon next to the engine was on fire. He immediately drew Fireman Nightall's attention to the fire and stopped the train. By the time the train had stopped the whole of the truck was enveloped in flames. Realising the danger, Gimbert instructed Nightall to try and uncouple the truck immediately behind the blazing truck. Nightall immediately uncoupled the truck, although he also knew that the truck contained explosives. The blazing truck was close to the station buildings at Soham, and was an obvious danger to life in the village. Both Gimbert and Nightall realised that they had to separate the truck from the remainder of the train. Gimbert set the engine in motion, pulling the burning truck away from the rest of the train. As they approached the signal box, Gimbert shouted to the signalman to stop the mail train which was almost due. At that instance, the bombs in the blazing wagon exploded. A 20 feet deep crater was blown in the track and all the buildings at Soham Rail Station were destroyed. A total of 600 buildings were damaged, including the station hotel. Fireman Nightall was killed instantly, and the signalman later died of his injuries. The train's guard, Herbert Clarke, survived although he was very badly shaken.

Despite being blown sky-high by the explosion, Gimbert survived. During his 6-week stay in hospital some 32 assorted pieces of glass, gravel and metal were removed from his body.