Modification and work up in Vancouver B.C.

HMS Thane in  Dry Dock at Esquimalt British Colombia 10th - 14th June 1944 during modification before entering active service

Believed to be the first instance of a marriage being performed on an RN aircraft carrier - one of the ship’s officers, Pay-Lieutenant Eric H. Grieve-Brown RNR married Flight Officer Muriel Anne Pennoyer RCAF (WD) on March 3rd 1944. Commander Eric McCausland, commanding officer HMS Thane performed the ceremony in the Captain’s cabin.

Above & below, left & Right: Saturday July 1st 1944: Dedication ceremony on the flight deck - the church service was led by The Right Reverend Sir Francis Heathcote, Bishop of New Westminster B.C., followed by Admirals divisions, Rear Admiral V. G. Brodeur RCN, Commanding Officer, Pacific Coast inspecting.

Above, Left & Right: Late afternoon Saturday July 8th - a farewell party on the flight deck at which several hundred guests were entertained by the singing of Legler Coles' Debutantes accompanied by the Sandy de Santis’ band.

June 28th 1944 - HMS Thane  has just passed under Lions Gate Bridge returning to Lapointe pier, Vancouver after collecting ammunition from Bremerton Navy Yard, Washington State.

Passage to Norfolk, Virginia

Above left & right: July 21st 1944, a US navy Air Ship exercises with HMS thane in the vicinity of San Francisco en route to the Panama Canal.

Above left & right: The aircraft handling party manoeuvre the ship’s former RCAF Shark III 546 ‘H’ on to a ‘traveller’ – a device to allow aircraft to be parked, tails out over the side, in flight ready condition without obstructing the fight deck.

Above left: The former RCAF Shark in use to give the deck parties hands on experience of aircraft  recovery after accidents on  deck. Above right: A B-24 Liberator of the Panama Canal defence forces, “attacking" Thane on July 22nd. The ship’s Shark has its undercarriage removed to simulate a crash on deck – the ship’s mobile crane is ready to move in to ‘recover’ it.

Approaching the Panama Canal: The aircraft handling party has jettisoned the ship’s former RCAF Shark over the side. This aircraft proved extremely useful in exercising the flight deck parties and aircraft handlers, and right at the end of its life the old plane made a target for the Port aft gun crews.

Above & below: Wednesday 26th July, Captain Baker presides over the buried at sea of Assistant Steward J.W. Newman who died of a perforated malignant ulcer shortly after the ship left Cristonal.