H.M.S. Glory was Commissioned on 21 February 1945. She had been fitted out, provisioned and her crew had been allocated their quarters.
HMS Glory slipped her berth on Friday 23rd March 1945 to begin her sea trials and working up. The first aircraft deck landings and take offs took place on 30 March 1945 by Barracuda 11s of 837 Squadron. HMS Glory embarked Corsair aircraft of 1831 Squadron and proceeded to work up for war.
On May 14th 1945 she became operational and left the Clyde and made her way to the Mediterranean Sea before heading for Freemantle where she was just in time for Victory in Japan Day. She went onto Rabaul for the signing of the surrender of the Japanese forces there. Later with her hanger deck converted to accommodation for re-repatriated Prisoners Of War she went to Sydney and then onto Canada.
By August 1946, with her aircrews all by now serving Royal Navy servicemen she embarked on a time of flying exercises and showing the flag visits, and twelve months later that was over and she departed for home with her paying off pennant flying via Singapore, Trincomalee and the Mediterranean arriving in October.
September 1945
HMS Glory then took part in the repatriation of Prisoners of War and the ship was prepared in Sydney for this task as the main hanger was filled with beds and a complete mobile hospital was installed.
Neil McCart, in his book HMS Glory 1945 to 1961, states that a mobile cinema was also created as was a dining hall, recreation centre and refectory tables and benches.
The ship’s squadrons were ashore and made way for these unusual hanger developments.
HMS Glory went to the Philippines and in October collected her passengers and set sail for Pearl Harbour.
Former prisoners being ferried out to HMS Glory.
Former prisoners being embarked.
Five members of the RAF who spent three years in captivity in Japan. Left to right: AC1 Melville of Clydebank, Scotland; AC1 Barry of Frindale, Glamorgan; LAC Duncan of Leeds; LAC Parish of Arsett, Essex; and Corporal Painey of Tamworth, Birmingham.
(Pictures courtesy of Imperial War Museum).
MANILA, PHILIPPINES 1945-10-09. EMBARKATION OF BRITISH AND CANADIAN EX PRISONERS OF WAR ON THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER HMS GLORY, BOUND FOR CANADA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM. AUSTRALIAN SISTERS AT THE GANGWAY OF THE LANDING CRAFT INFANTRY TO FAREWELL THE EX PRISONERS OF WAR.
Courtesy of Australian War Memorial
HMS GLORY ASSOCIATION 