Littleport in Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
James William Nightall
Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 29, 2026
1. James William Nightall Marker
To the memory of James William Nightall G.C., a son of Littleport and a railway man
Locomotive fireman James Nightall was posthumously awarded the George Cross for his heroism in saving the people and town of Soham from death and destruction on the 2nd June 1944.
He died, aged twenty two and his driver Benjamin Gimbert G.C. was badly injured and signalman Frank Bridges was fatally injured as they removed a blazing wagon laden with bombs from an ammunition train.
This memorial was erected by Network Rail and the Royal British Legion to record this gallant act.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Railroads & Streetcars • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Victoria Cross and George Cross Recipients series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 2, 1944.
Location. 52° 27.402′ N, 0° 18.458′ E. Memorial is in Littleport, England, in Cambridgeshire. It is at the intersection of Granby Street and Victoria Street, on the left when traveling south on Granby Street. The memorial is mounted to the side of the Littleport Library. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 1a Granby St, Littleport, England CB6 1PA, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in England’s East Anglia. Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 6 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ely Cemetery (approx. 6.4 kilometers away); a different marker also named Ely Cemetery (approx. 6.4 kilometers away).
Also see . . .
1. James Nightall (Wikipedia).
this page online
Railwayman James William Nightall GC (20 May 1922 2 June 1944) 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 London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) fireman on a 51-wagon ammunition train driven by Benjamin Gimbert. When a wagon caught fire, Nightall helped Gimbert uncouple it from the rest of the train in order to allow Gimbert to tow the burning wagon away from the rest of the ammunition wagons on the train. The wagon exploded after being towed a distance of 140 yards (130 m), killing Nightall instantly, but preventing a chain reaction in the other wagons. The explosion blew a twenty-foot crater in the track, destroyed Soham railway station, and damaged 600 buildings in the village. Gimbert, who survived the conflagration, was also awarded the George Cross and Order of Industrial Heroism.(Submitted on July 22, 2026.)
2. Soham Rail Disaster (Wikipedia). (Submitted on July 22, 2026.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on July 22, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
