Amongst Graffiti in the galleries of HMS Forward at Newhaven is the name " Sapper Matthews" and next to it in the same script "Cape Wrath No 5" . This is written on the "tins" and would have been covered with felt and board when commissioned so our sapper is almost certainly a member of 172 Tunnelling Coy RE who were made up of miners who had volunteered to join the Army. There is much other similar graffiti such as towns in S Wales, Lancashire and also a piece expressing their unhappiness at being paid 2/- (10p to the young'uns) a day when the guys in the Kent pits were earning around 6 to 8 times as much . This is expressed in best sapper terms barely fit for publication. They had worked on the South Foreland before coming to Newhaven. If Cape Wrath #5 isn't a shaft anyone any thoughts as to what it might be? Pete
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