As millions of people across the UK prepare to mark Armistice Day St John Ambulance Cymru is remembering all those whose dedicated service on the battlefields of Europe which led to the formation of Wales’ leading first aid charity.
On 4th August 1914 over 800 St John Ambulance men and women were in training camp near Aberystwyth. They were quickly mobilised to fill vacancies left in hospitals by medics who had departed for the Front Line. Many more were deployed to serve on hospital ships and trains.
The 130th (St John) Field Ambulance Unit was made up of St John Ambulance-trained men recruited from coalfields across south Wales. It was the only WWI unit allowed to call itself St John, and to wear the St John insignia as part of the uniform.
The men served at some of the most important battles of the First World War including the Battle of Mametz Wood in July 1916 and Pilckem Ridge during the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917.
Between them the men of the 130th unit won 25 military medals for gallantry, two Distinguished Conduct Medals, two Croix de Guerres and three Military Crosses.
Tragically, 11 of them were killed or died from wounds sustained in battle.
St John Ambulance Cymru was founded in 1918 after our volunteers, who were recruited into the Division, returned from France where they’d helped treat soldiers on the battlefields. It was the hard work and dedication of those volunteers, at home and overseas, that earned Wales it’s very own St John Priory, based in Cardiff.
After the war, our volunteers continued to provide first aid treatment, including taking care of the war wounded and assisting with the rehabilitation of returning volunteers.
When the Second World War broke out in 1939, St John Ambulance and the British Red Cross formed the ‘Joint War Organisation.’ It provided vital support to the Armed Forces Medical Services, and St John youth members were drafted in to care for part of the nation’s medical and welfare needs.
Throughout the Second World War, the global response by St John Ambulance took in the care of prisoners of war, displaced persons, the wounded and missing, ambulance transport and, of course, the training and provision of medical volunteers. St John Ambulance Cymru also stepped in to help on the home front, saving innumerable lives.
The Prior for Wales, Sir Paul Williams, OBE KStJ, DL said, ”We wish to pay our respects to all those, past and present, who have served in armed conflict throughout our history. We acknowledge those who have died and those whose lives were changed by their experiences.
We especially give thanks for the 130th (St John) Field Ambulance Unit whose dedication and service during WWI helped establish St John Ambulance Cymru. We remember them with respect and gratitude, their selfless dedication continues to inspire us in our mission to provide first aid for everyone, anytime, anywhere.”
A nominal roll of the men who served in the 130th (St John) Field Ambulance Unit can be found here. Please note St John Ambulance Cymru is not responsible for the content of any external websites.
Mae St John Ambulance Cymru yn cofio gwreiddiau maes y gad
Wrth i filiynau o bobl ledled y DU baratoi i nodi Diwrnod y Cadoediad mae St John Ambulance Cymru yn cofio am bawb yr arweiniodd eu gwasanaeth ymroddedig ar feysydd brwydrau Ewrop at ffurfio prif elusen cymorth cyntaf Cymru.
Ar 4ydd Awst 1914 roedd dros 800 o ddynion a merched St John Ambulance mewn gwersyll hyfforddi ger Aberystwyth. Cawsant eu cynnull yn gyflym i lenwi swyddi gwag a adawyd mewn ysbytai gan feddygon a oedd wedi gadael am y Rheng Flaen. Defnyddiwyd llawer mwy i wasanaethu ar longau a threnau ysbyty.
Roedd y 130fed Uned Ambiwlans Maes (Sant Ioan) yn cynnwys dynion a hyfforddwyd gan St John Ambulance a recriwtiwyd o feysydd glo ar draws de Cymru. Hon oedd yr unig uned o'r Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf a ganiatawyd i alw ei hun yn Sant Ioan, ac i wisgo arwyddlun Sant Ioan fel rhan o'r wisg.
Gwasanaethodd y dynion yn rhai o frwydrau pwysicaf y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf gan gynnwys Brwydr Coed Mametz ym mis Gorffennaf 1916 a Philckem Ridge yn ystod Trydedd Frwydr Ypres ym 1917.
Rhyngddynt enillodd dynion y 130fed uned 25 o fedalau milwrol am ddewrder, dwy Fedal Ymddygiad Neilltuol, dwy Croix de Guerres a thair Croes Filwrol.
Yn drasig, cafodd 11 ohonyn nhw eu lladd neu eu marw o glwyfau a gafwyd mewn brwydr.
Sefydlwyd St John Ambulance Cymru yn 1918 ar ôl i’n gwirfoddolwyr, a gafodd eu recriwtio i’r Adran, ddychwelyd o Ffrainc lle buont yn helpu i drin milwyr ar feysydd y gad. Gwaith caled ac ymroddiad y gwirfoddolwyr hynny, gartref a thramor, a enillodd i Gymru Briordy Sant Ioan ei hun, sydd wedi’i leoli yng Nghaerdydd.
Ar ôl y rhyfel, parhaodd ein gwirfoddolwyr i ddarparu triniaeth cymorth cyntaf, gan gynnwys gofalu am y clwyfedigion rhyfel a chynorthwyo gydag adsefydlu gwirfoddolwyr a oedd yn dychwelyd.
Pan ddechreuodd yr Ail Ryfel Byd ym 1939, ffurfiodd St John Ambulance a’r Groes Goch Brydeinig y ‘Cyd-Sefydliad Rhyfel.’ Darparodd gefnogaeth hanfodol i Wasanaethau Meddygol y Lluoedd Arfog, a chafodd aelodau ieuenctid Sant Ioan eu drafftio i mewn i ofalu am ran o anghenion meddygol a lles y genedl.
Drwy gydol yr Ail Ryfel Byd, roedd ymateb byd-eang St John Ambulance yn gofalu am garcharorion rhyfel, pobl wedi'u dadleoli, y clwyfedig ac ar goll, cludiant ambiwlans ac, wrth gwrs, hyfforddi a darparu gwirfoddolwyr meddygol. Camodd St John Ambulance Cymru i’r adwy hefyd i helpu yn y ffrynt cartref, gan achub bywydau di-rif.
Meddai’r Prior ar gyfer Cymru, Syr Paul Williams, OBE KStJ, DL,
“Dymunwn dalu ein parch i bawb, ddoe a heddiw, sydd wedi gwasanaethu mewn gwrthdaro arfog trwy gydol ein hanes. Rydym yn cydnabod y rhai sydd wedi marw a'r rhai y newidiwyd eu bywydau gan eu profiadau.
Diolchwn yn arbennig am y 130fed Uned Ambiwlans Maes (Sant Ioan) y bu eu hymroddiad a'u gwasanaeth yn ystod y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf yn gymorth i sefydlu St John Ambulance Cymru. Cofiwn amdanynt gyda pharch a diolchgarwch, mae eu hymroddiad anhunanol yn parhau i’n hysbrydoli yn ein cenhadaeth i ddarparu cymorth cyntaf i bawb, unrhyw bryd, unrhyw le.”
Mae rhestr enwol o'r dynion a wasanaethodd yn Uned Ambiwlans Maes y 130ain (Sant Ioan) i'w gweld yma. Sylwch nad yw St John Ambulance Cymru yn gyfrifol am gynnwys unrhyw wefannau allanol.
