The Canadians were also active in 1942 at the manganese mines on the Lleyn
in the then Caernarvonshire drilling 8000 feet of exploratory bores with
diamond tipped drills.
Mike Shaw
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Mason" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2005 7:31 PM
Subject: Re: [MINING-HISTORY] Cornwall mining photo
No 1 Tunnelling Coy RCE were involved throughout the early part of the war
digging deep shelters and HQs in the South East. They had RE tunnelling Coys
attached to them. 172 was one of these and composed of men from mining
backgrounds who had volunteered to join up and were given next to no
military training. They were digging in Newhaven (HMS Forward) 5/1941
onwards having arrived from the South Foreland area of Kent. The OC is still
around (82 yrs) and recently told us that they had mixed with Kent miners
are were close to mutiny by the time they arrived at Newhaven, they were
drawing 2/- (10p) a day plus board whereas the Kent guys were getting about
£1 working extra shifts and bonuses. Graffiti in HMS Forward reflects
this.Other graffiti lists towns and breweries from all over the UK mining
areas. There was also a Canadian hard rock drilling team attached to No1 who
sank the cable shafts and vents with remarkable accuracy. At this time they
were based at Michelam Priory East Sussex. see www.secret-tunnels.co.uk
for more. Pete
----- Original Message -----
From: "Iain Wright" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Pete Mason" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2005 4:56 PM
Subject: Cornwall mining photo
Dear List,
In The Times last Saturday (24th) there was a Focus Report on "Travel West".
On page 11 there is a photo captioned "Soldiers remove tin extacted from a
Cornish mines reopened during the Second World War.......". I understand
from the paper that the photo is dated 13th August 1942 and depicts the No1
Tunnelling Company of the Canadian Army.
I have never seen this photo published before and was unaware that Canadian
soldiers undertook this work. From what can be seen of the background it
looks more like east Cornwall to me and I wonder if it could be tungsten
rather than tin.
Anyone got any further info or suggestions?
Regards,
Iain Wright
--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.6/111 - Release Date: 23/09/05
|