The voice of a Dinas war veteran is echoing through the secret tunnels of Dover Castle, decades after he etched his name on the chalky walls.

Former printer Richard Sheen was stationed at the castle while in the Royal Signals during the Second World War.

His memories now feature in a new English Heritage exhibition, and recordings of his interviews are played in the tunnels.

Mr Sheen, now aged 92, worked in the tunnels for more than two years, and was part of a team plotting enemy aircraft during Operation Dynamo, including the evacuation of more than 300,000 troops from Dunkirk.

The tunnels, 70 feet below ground, were classed as a ship captained by Admiral Ramsey, where the Army and Navy were tasked with protecting the south east coast.

Mr Sheen became involved in the heritage project after he laid a wreath on behalf of the Royal Signals at a memorial service dedicated to Admiral Ramsey.

He was invited to the opening of the exhibition last week.

He said: “When I went back into the tunnels everything started coming back; the smells, the dampness the mustiness. I’ll always remember walking into the castle shrouded in mist. Our barracks were above Dover harbour, and you could see everything going on there.

“Nothing really happened at first, until the Germans started the blitz in 1940, of course all hell let loose then.”

Mr Sheen remembers the harbour packed with little ships of the makeshift fleet that rescued soldiers from Dunkirk He said: “It was very busy at that time. Our job was to protect those ships coming home.

“There were a number of dive-bombers playing havoc with the troops on the beaches.

“When we were off duty we went down to help the soldiers off the ships. They were in some sorry states. Lots of them never came back.”

He added: “A lot happened during the time I spent there.

“It’s a fantastic castle and I have real affection for the place.”