Memorial

Housing estate and Plaque Barton V.C. 1944

Ryhope

Memorial Name: Housing estate and Plaque Barton V.C. 1944 (R52.09)

NEWMP Ref No.: R52.09

Parish: Ryhope

Original Location:

Barton Park, Housing Estate

Which War:

1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Plaque unveiled March 20th 2002 by Sqdn.Ldr. Rodney Burgess of R.A.F. Leeming.

Materials Used:

Stainless steel plaque.

Who Commissioned:

House builders

Inscription:

BARTON PARK
This development is named as a lasting tribute to
Pilot Officer Cyril Joe Barton (168669) VC RAFVR
No 578 Squadron R.A.F.
On the night of 30th March 1944, Pilot Officer Barton was Captain and
pilot of a Halifax aircraft detailed to attack Nuremberg. Despite his
aircraft suffering severe damage from enemy fighters and the loss of
three crew members, Pilot Officer Barton courageously
completed his mission.
Without navigational aids and running low on fuel, Pilot Officer Barton
returned his crippled aircraft over heavily defended territory before
crossing the English Channel north of his base. He steered the stricken
aircraft clear of all but one of the houses at Hallycorrside before crashing
in a colliery yard approximately 200 yards North of this site.
Pilot Officer Barton, aged just 22, lost his life, but his three remaining
comrades survived.
In recognition of this supreme act of valour and dedication to his country
Pilot Officer Barton was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

“In gallantly completing his last mission in the face of
almost impossible odds, he displayed unsurpassed courage
and devotion to duty”

Memorial Description:

Housing Estate.

A brick wall carries a plaque 48 inches high x 24 inches wide (1.21m x 608mm) set within a stone frame.

At top are (left) the badge of the R.A.F. and (right) the badge of 57 Squadron.

The lettering is Roman with the quotation at the bottom in italics.

Names:

See above

Notes:

1. See Cyril Joe Barton VC Every Name A Story entry.

2. The ceremony was attended by Len Lambert, former navigator and last surviving member of the crew.

3. A letter to Flypast Magazine from an eyewitness to the crash says that P.O. Barton’s plane landed on Ryhope Colliery, not near it; that the aircraft demolished the end house of West Terrace; he died shortly after being taken from the aircraft, not the next day. The witness was also the prime mover in having P.O. Barton’s name added to the memorial R52.01.

External Links:

More information about Pilot Officer Barton
578 Squadron
The CWGC entry for Pilot Officer Barton

Sources:

Photos: C. Sanders; James Pasby

Journal
02/03/2002 reports proposal to unveil plaque and name the new housing estate Barton Park.

Sunderland Echo
24/04/2008 carries the story of Barton V.C.

A Chronicle of Members’ Memoirs 1999 published by The Aircrew Association Northumbrian Branch contains the story told by Len Lambert, navigator in the Halifax aircraft involved.

FlyPast Key Publishing Ltd.,
April 2012 carries an article and photo of P.O. Barton on page 85;
January 2013 carries a letter quoted in Note 4 above on page 118.

Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War; 1944; W.R. Chorley; Midland Counties Publication; 1997; ISBN 0 904597 91 1; page 157