The Once and Future Beefeater

An aged British actor, never selected for a speaking part at the historic Globe theater is finally chosen to play a small role as a Beefeater wearing the complete regalia befitting this employment. His sole line is to yell out, “Hark, is that a cannon I hear?”, but it comes at a crucial time in the play and the words must be projected forcefully to the audience in, well, a yell. It has been the actor’s lifelong dream to enact a part on the Globe stage, even if it is a sliver of a role. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic shuts down all theater attendance in London and the actor is laid off. To bide his time, he chooses to travel to central Africa where he volunteers for about two years as a teacher. Before leaving, he was warned to take plenty of iodine to minimize the chance that his goiter would continue to grow, but he is rather lackadaisical about his medications. After two years, activities resume in London and the play begins rehearsals. The actor is called back for his bit role. Regrettably, his goiter had enlarged during the two-year layoff and he no longer can button the neck of the Beefeater costume. The director tells the actor he can either have surgery for the goiter, or leave the show. The actor choses to have the surgery, at which time the surgeon discovers the goiter is actually a thyroid cancer, necessitating removal of the thyroid gland and surrounding tissues. Two weeks post-surgery, the actor returns to the theater, but is unable to project his voice at the level necessary to mimic a Beefeater. He is fired from the play. A year after the surgery the actor has not yet fully recovered the “power” of his voice, but exhibits no other deficits. He is able to breathe normally, swallow, and clear his throat. Based on this history, what nerve was likely injured during the surgery?

Which labeled nerve was damaged during surgery of the Beefeater?