Barton V.C. Centre

Hopewood Park Psychiatric hospital, Waterworks Road, Ryhope, Sunderland. SR2 0NB.

1939-45

Glass balustrade unveiled 31st March 2014.

Glass balustrade

Glass artist Dan Savage from York

On 30/31st March 1944
Pilot Officer
Cyril Barton
age 22 took part in a
bombing mission on Nuremburg.
His Halifax bomber
was badly damaged before
getting there, resulting in
three of the crew bailing out
but Barton carried on.
On his way back
he flew without navigation aids,
his fuel was nearly exhausted
from the damage and on reaching
England the port engine stopped.
In being forced to crash land
Barton gallantly avoided houses in Ryhope
before landing at Ryhope Colliery.
Although Baryon and a local
miner lost their lives his three
remaining crew survived the crash.
Pilot Officer Barton was
posthumously awarded the
Victoria Cross
for displaying unsurpassed courage
and devotion to duty in the face of
almost impossible odds.

An etched glass balustrade tells the story of Cyril Barton V.C.

1. Hopewood Park is a new mental health hospital built to replace the Cherry Knowle hospital.

2. See also R52.01, R52.07, R52.09, R52.10 and R52.11 and at Monkwearmouth in M46.02, Page 5B.

Photos: James Pasby; Dorothy Hall

Simon Glancey;
Dorothy Hall

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk