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Soham bells toll to mark World War Two rail disaster | Soham bells toll to mark World War Two rail disaster |
(about 20 hours later) | |
Church bells have rung out to remember two men who died in a massive World War Two explosion while trying to save a town from destruction 75 years ago. | |
A train carrying bombs caught fire while travelling through Soham in Cambridgeshire, on 2 June 1944. | A train carrying bombs caught fire while travelling through Soham in Cambridgeshire, on 2 June 1944. |
Driver Benjamin Gimbert and fireman James Nightall attempted to drive it out of town when it exploded, killing Nighthall and signalman Frank Bridges. | Driver Benjamin Gimbert and fireman James Nightall attempted to drive it out of town when it exploded, killing Nighthall and signalman Frank Bridges. |
A memorial service was also held in the town's church to mark the event. | |
Mr Gimbert was "fearfully maimed" but survived the incident which took place at about midnight, according to Cambridgeshire historian Mike Petty. | Mr Gimbert was "fearfully maimed" but survived the incident which took place at about midnight, according to Cambridgeshire historian Mike Petty. |
He explained they uncoupled the blazing munitions wagon from the rest in a bid to drive it out of town. | He explained they uncoupled the blazing munitions wagon from the rest in a bid to drive it out of town. |
Mr Petty said if it had exploded closer to Soham - a town with a current population of about 10,000 - "there would be no Soham". | Mr Petty said if it had exploded closer to Soham - a town with a current population of about 10,000 - "there would be no Soham". |
The explosion destroyed houses and left "scores of families homeless". | The explosion destroyed houses and left "scores of families homeless". |
Kay Sinclair, whose father was an off-duty firefighter who went to help, said: "He was told to crawl into the crater in which the train was lying and retrieve the body of James Nightall. | Kay Sinclair, whose father was an off-duty firefighter who went to help, said: "He was told to crawl into the crater in which the train was lying and retrieve the body of James Nightall. |
"He also had to check the other munitions wagons as there was a fear they'd explode." | "He also had to check the other munitions wagons as there was a fear they'd explode." |
June Stittle, 87, was aged 12 at the time. | June Stittle, 87, was aged 12 at the time. |
"There was this horrific bang and we were waiting for the next one as we thought it was bombs," she said. | "There was this horrific bang and we were waiting for the next one as we thought it was bombs," she said. |
"The ceiling had fallen down on us and the windows had all come in, while the bed was covered in rubble and glass." | "The ceiling had fallen down on us and the windows had all come in, while the bed was covered in rubble and glass." |
She said the flying squad arrived the next day - a group of men tasked with travelling the country to patch up bomb-damaged homes. | She said the flying squad arrived the next day - a group of men tasked with travelling the country to patch up bomb-damaged homes. |
They stayed on for months, repairing houses. | They stayed on for months, repairing houses. |
Donna Martin, from Soham Museum, said a layer of debris was scattered over the town - which is still being uncovered when people work in their gardens. | Donna Martin, from Soham Museum, said a layer of debris was scattered over the town - which is still being uncovered when people work in their gardens. |
Mr Gimbert and Mr Nightall both received the George Cross for their efforts. | Mr Gimbert and Mr Nightall both received the George Cross for their efforts. |
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