Wilfred J Friday Died 24 August 1940, aged 19 Remembered on Ash War Memorial Remembered on the Civilian Scroll of Honour in Westminster Abbey Buried in Ash Cemetery (I41) His brother is also remembered on his gravestone

Two railway men, ganger George Keen and length man George Leach won the George Medal for their heroic actions in saving a blazing ammunition train at Tongham on the night of 22 August 1940. The train was one of a number that were normally kept on the move around the south of England, standing by in case the threatened German invasion happened. Whether by luck or judgment, a lone raider caught the train in a siding on what was to be one of the rare air raids on the Aldershot area. The first two trucks of the train were set on fire by a shower of incendiary bombs. These bombs also hit the village school and other houses in the village. The prompt action of George Keen and George Leach who organized the rescue operation in which they were aided by firemen, soldiers, policemen, fellow railway men and local people. They managed to uncouple the untouched trucks and manhandle them to safety. Had they not been successful the fire could have taken greater hold on the train and the resulting explosion and fires could have devastated the village and area for miles around. Sadly George Keen died on 25 May 1941, three days before he and George Leach were due to receive their George Medals. Wilfred Friday lived in Spoil Lane, Tongham. As the munitions exploded on the train he opened the door of his house and was caught in a blast. He died later, on 24 August 1940, of shrapnel wounds. This story of the Ammunition Train bombing is by Gillian Picken. "Marjorie's memories of the train explosion" can be seen in the "Tongham Stories" folder in the Museum, and "Reginald Nash's account of the Tongham ammunition train bombing in August 1940" can be seen in the History Room. There is another account on the WW2 People's War website