Combat Stress veterans art work on display at National Trust

A group of Royal Army Medical Corps veterans, treated by Combat Stress, are exhibiting their artwork and poetry to celebrate Armed Forces Day (30 June 2018).

The exhibition In Arduis Fidelis (Faithful in Adversity) will be held at the chapel in Burghclere, Hampshire, from Wednesday 27 June to Sunday 8 July (Wed - Sun only).

Owned by the National Trust, Sandham Memorial Chapel showcases the genius of artist Stanley Spencer who created it and his 19 paintings housed inside. They depict his experiences as a Royal Army Medical Corps orderly both at the Beaufort Hospital, Bristol, and then in Salonika, Greece, during the First World War.

One hundred years later, this exhibition gives visitors a glimpse into the world of former combat medics, with their artwork and poetry conveying how their mental health has been affected by war. It’s a reminder that for some veterans, the battle continues.

Jan Lobban, Senior Art Psychotherapist at Combat Stress, said: ‘This is a rare opportunity to see work that’s been created by veterans as part of their recovery from trauma. Art provides a channel for self-expression and for making sense of experiences when words aren’t enough. It gets to the heart of the matter.