Many current and previous members of staff and patients of Cardiff Royal Infirmary will fondly remember the painting ‘Care of Wounded Soldiers at Cardiff Royal Infirmary during the Great War’ when it hung by the Infirmary’s main entrance. During the renovation of Cardiff Royal Infirmary, the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps Association (QARANC), kindly offered to pay for the refurbishment of the painting and to house it on loan at the Head Quarters of the Army Medical Services in Camberly, where it can be deservingly cared for, protected and researched.
After arranging for a high-quality print of the painting to be gifted back to Cardiff Royal Infirmary, members of the Cardiff & Vale Health Charity team were invited to visit the painting at RMA Sandhurst and hear about the new findings that have been uncovered from the research around it.
The oil on canvas painting by Margaret Lindsay Williams depicts Mametz Ward at Cardiff Royal Infirmary during the Great War. Local ex-servicemen and citizens of Cardiff raised more than £7,900 to commission the painting in memory of the men of 16th Cardiff City Service Battalion, Welsh Regiment who fought and died at Mametz Wood in July 1916. It was unveiled and dedicated in November 1924 by the windows of Lieutenant Colonel Frank Hill Gaskell and Company Sergeant Major T John.
There are several interesting features in the painting, the Cala Lilies (cone-like flowers) are thought to have been used by the artist to symbolise trumpets heralding victory. Throughout history, Calla lilies have been expressed in paintings with the Virgin Mary or with the Angel of Annuciation, because they can also symbolise purity, holiness and faith.
The artist was born in Cardiff and lived much of her life at Windsor Road, Barry. Prodigiously talented, Williams entered Cardiff Art School at age 13 in 1902. She was the youngest student ever and first Welsh artist to win the Royal Academy School’s gold medal in art for her painting ‘The City of Refuge’ in 1911.
During the visit, the Health Charity Team were hosted by staff of the QARANC and were joined by others with an interest in the painting and its history, including staff from the Florence Nightingale Museum, London. The small group was given the opportunity to view the painting and be part of a guided tour of the Sandhurst Memorial Chapel.
It was a pleasure to see the painting being proudly displayed at Sandhurst and to discuss the history and significance of the painting and reflect on its importance in relation to the history of Cardiff Royal Infirmary.
Tîm yr Elusen Iechyd yn ymweld â phaentiad arbennig Ysbyty Brenhinol Caerdydd yn RMA Sandhurst
Bydd llawer o aelodau o staff presennol a blaenorol a chleifion Ysbyty Brenhinol Caerdydd yn cofio’n annwyl y paentiad ‘Gofalu am Filwyr Clwyfedig yn Ysbyty Brenhinol Caerdydd yn ystod y Rhyfel Mawr‘ pan oedd yn hongian ger prif fynedfa’r Ysbyty. Yn ystod y gwaith o adnewyddu Ysbyty Brenhinol Caerdydd, gwnaeth Cymdeithas Corfflu Nyrsio Byddin Frenhinol y Frenhines Alexandra (QARANC), gynnig talu am adnewyddu’r paentiad a’i gadw ar fenthyg ym Mhencadlys Gwasanaethau Meddygol y Fyddin yn Camberly, lle gellir gofalu amdano, ei ddiogelu ac ymchwilio iddo’n haeddiannol.
Ar ôl trefnu i brint o ansawdd uchel o’r paentiad gael ei roi yn ôl i Ysbyty Brenhinol Caerdydd, gwahoddwyd aelodau o dîm Elusen Iechyd Caerdydd a’r Fro i ymweld â’r paentiad yn RMA Sandhurst a chlywed am y canfyddiadau newydd sydd wedi’u datgelu o’r ymchwil yn ei gylch.
Mae’r paentiad olew ar gynfas gan Margaret Lindsay Williams yn darlunio Ward Mametz yn Ysbyty Brenhinol Caerdydd yn ystod y Rhyfel Mawr. Gwnaeth cyn-filwyr lleol a dinasyddion Caerdydd godi dros £7,900 i gomisiynu’r paentiad er cof am ddynion 16eg Bataliwn Gwasanaeth Dinas Caerdydd, y Gatrawd Gymreig a ymladdodd ac a fu farw yng Nghoed Mametz ym mis Gorffennaf 1916. Fe’i dadorchuddiwyd a’i chysegru ym mis Tachwedd 1924 gan weddwon Is-gyrnol Frank Hill Gaskell ac Uwch-ringyll y Cwmni T John.
Mae sawl nodwedd ddiddorol yn y paentiad, a chredir bod y Cala Lilies (blodau siâp côn) wedi cael eu defnyddio gan yr artist i symboleiddio utgyrn yn cyhoeddi buddugoliaeth. Trwy gydol hanes, mae Cala Lilies wedi’u mynegi mewn paentiadau gyda’r Forwyn Fair neu gyda’r Angel Annuciation, oherwydd gallant hefyd symboleiddio purdeb, sancteiddrwydd a ffydd.
Ganed yr artist yng Nghaerdydd a bu’n byw llawer o’i bywyd yn Heol Windsor, y Barri. Yn hynod dalentog, aeth Williams i Ysgol Gelf Caerdydd yn 13 oed yn 1902. Hi oedd y fyfyrwraig ieuengaf erioed a’r artist cyntaf o Gymru i ennill medal aur Ysgol yr Academi Frenhinol mewn celf am ei phaentiad ‘The City of Refuge’ yn 1911.
Yn ystod yr ymweliad, croesawyd Tîm yr Elusen Iechyd gan staff y QARANC a chawsant gwmni eraill â diddordeb yn y paentiad a’i hanes, gan gynnwys staff o Amgueddfa Florence Nightingale, Llundain. Cafodd y criw bach gyfle i weld y paentiad a bod yn rhan o daith dywys o amgylch Capel Coffa Sandhurst.
Pleser oedd gweld y paentiad yn cael ei arddangos gyda balchder yn Sandhurst a thrafod hanes ac arwyddocâd y paentiad a myfyrio ar ei bwysigrwydd mewn perthynas â hanes Ysbyty Brenhinol Caerdydd.