page_title: Soham
section_title: Soham rail disaster
hierarchical_section_title: Soham / History / Soham rail disaster
caption_attribution_description: English: Soham Rail Disaster memorial. This permanent memorial to the Soham Rail Disaster was unveiled on 2nd June 2007 by HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, followed by a service in St. Andrew's Church. The memorial in Red Lion Square is situated adjacent to the War Memorial. It is constructed of Portland Stone with embossed text on three top panels.
context_page_description: Soham is a town and civil parish in east Cambridgeshire, England, just off the A142 between Ely and Newmarket. Its population was 10,860 at the 2011 census.
context_section_description: The town narrowly escaped destruction on 2 June 1944, during the Second World War, when a fire developed on the leading wagon of a heavy ammunition train travelling slowly through the town. The town was saved by the bravery of four railway staff, Benjamin Gimbert GC (driver), James Nightall GC (fireman), Frank Bridges (signalman) and Herbert Clarke (guard), who uncoupled the rest of the train and drove the engine and lead wagon clear of the town, where it exploded, killing Jim Nightall and Frank Bridges but causing no further deaths. Ben Gimbert survived and spent seven weeks in hospital. Although small in comparison to what would have happened if the entire train had blown up, the explosion caused substantial property damage. Gimbert and Nightall were both awarded the George Cross (Nightall posthumously). 
  A permanent memorial was unveiled on 2 June 2007 by Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester followed by a service in St Andrew's Church. The memorial is constructed of Portland stone with a bronze inlay depicting interpretive artwork of the damaged train and text detailing the incident.
caption: Memorial to the victims of the 1944 rail disaster
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