H.M.S. ATHELING Gallery

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HMS ATHELING gallery

Images and memorabilia from the private collections of Sub Lt. (A) J. Vallely RNVR are marked †; Sub-Lt A. L. Fletcher RNVR (Merchant Marine no. R187202), courtesy of his son Garth Fletcher. He served on HMS ATHELING from June 7th 1943 rated as 5th Engineer as an engine room officer under the T124X scheme. He stayed with this ship until October 12th 1945 are marked ‡; Images supplied by Stoker Charles Kelly are marked Ω . Additional Images, marked © IWM, are reproduced under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence.

Most of these images are sized to fit the screen, however where possible those containing groups of personnel will open large enough to see individuals. Many, but not all, of these images are available in larger, high-res versions and copies can be supplied upon receipt of a photo request. If you have pictures or other memorabilia that you can contribute to this project please contact the Webmaster using the Offer of assistance form.

The Royal Navy Research Archive is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License See our terms of use for conditions regarding using these images in other works.

Maiden voyage, Ferry trip to Greenock and conversion to a fighter carrier: November 1943 - February 1944

HMS ATHELING underway on December 22nd 1943 with her ferry load on route to New York from Norfolk. U.S. Navy photo 80-G-450245 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command.

HMS ATHELING, at anchor Greenock Possibly January 1943 after unloading her ferry laod.†

HMS ATHELING, at anchor Greenock February 22nd, 1944 believed to be on completion of conversation to a fighter carrier. © IWM A 21918

HMS ATHELING, at anchor Greenock February 22nd, 1944 believed to be on completion of conversation to a fighter carrier. © IWM A 21919

Operations with the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron: April - July 1944

ATHELING at sea off Ceylon, Date unknown. Ω

ATHELING at sea off Ceylon, Date unknown.Ω

ATHELING at sea off Ceylon, Date unknown. Ω

ATHELING secured forward and aft to buoys in harbour - note the signaller using semaphore to send and receive messages on the flight deck.‡

ATHELING manoeuvring to her berth at Colombo, date unknown. †

ATHELING at anchor, possibly at Colombo harbour, date unknown. †

ATHELING puitting to sea. location and date unknown. †

A Wildcat fighter of 890 squadron making its take-off run.

Sub-Lt. MF Turner RNVR lands Wildcat JV508 with his arrester hook up and goes into the barrier, May 15th. †

June 29th 1944 the camera captures Seafire MB253 of 889 Squadron in mid-crash; the aircraft flown by Sub-Lt. J. D. Chittenden RNZNVR has failed to clear the barrier and its undercarriage has been torn off. The air aft continued up the deck and went over the bow taking LR807 and its pilot Sub-Lt. R. Bisman RNZNVR, parked forward, with it. Three flight deck personnel, D/JX 305515 Able Seaman N. Brechin, FX 108105 Air Mechanic (E) R. J. Milton and FX 100335 Air Fitter (A) H. Patrick were also knocked overboard, their bodies were not recovered.Ω

Captain Agnew and the ships chaplain preside over a burial at sea. This is probably the ceremony for Sub Lt (A) R.T. Bisman RNZNVR and Sub Lt (A) J.D. Chittenden RNZNVR, who were both killed in a deck crash on Thursday, 29th June 1944.Ω

August1944 ATHELING conducting Deck Landing Training for 822 squadron. A Barracuda making a successful take-off †

August 1944 ATHELING conducting Deck Landing Training for 822 squadron. Lt E.W. Moore RNVR surveys the damage after Barracuda LS521 had a barrier crash, August 19th. †

ATHELING on passage to Cape town c. August 1944. A single corsair of 1838 squadron is being manhandled on the after end of the flight deck as seen from the cockpit of an 818 squadron Swordfish. Ω

ATHELING in dry dock, date and location not known Ω

On loan to the US Navy as a ferry carrier: December 1944 - September 1945

Hoisting a Corsair fighter, believed to be from VJ-19 during their move from Falalop island, Ulithi Atoll to Engobi Island, Eniwetok atoll 1,500 miles east. Loading from coral islands had to be done using lighters and hoists as the reefs prevented carriers for approaching piers. Ω

Hoisting a Corsair fighter, believed to be from VJ-19 during their move from Falalop island, Ulithi Atoll to Engobi Island, Eniwetok atoll 1,500 miles east. Ω

Hoisting a Stinson L-5b Sentinel air ambulance, believed to be from VJ-19 during their move from Falalop island, Ulithi Atoll to Engobi Island, Eniwetok atoll 1,500 miles east. Ω

A Corsair fighter, is craned aboard as part of a ferry load somewhere in the pacific. A Corsair fighter, is craned aboard as part of a ferry load somewhere in the pacific. The use of a crane, rather than the ship’s own hoist suggests she is alongside a deep-water jetty. Date unknown. Ω

A full ferry load of US Navy Corsairs on her flight deck, ATHELING is underway to an unknown destination. Date unknown. Ω

Operations as a Trooping carrier November1945 - October 1946

December 18th 1945: HMS ATHELING at Fremantle on her first trooping voyage. Image: Green, Allan C (1945). gr004290 HMS. Atheling State Library Victoria

December 18th 1945: HMS ATHELING at Fremantle on her first trooping voyage. Image: Green, Allan C (1945). gr004289 HMS. Atheling State Library Victoria

December 18th 1945: HMS ATHELING at Fremantle on her first trooping voyage. Image: Green, Allan C (1945). gr002080 HMS. Atheling State Library Victoria

December 1945: HMS ATHELING at anchor in Sydney, during her first trooping voyage.

HMS ATHELING leaving Grand Harbour, Malta on her second trooping voyage. Note she is now painted overall grey and wears no pennant number.

October 1946: HMS ATHELING has arrived at Portsmouth on completion of her final trooping voyage. On this trip she also embarked Seafire and Firefly aircraft for return to the U.K.

The ship's company and recreation

The commanding officer Captain R.I. Agnew RCN with two of the ships officers. ‡

Some of the ships officers having drinks with Captain Agnew ‡

Guests are entertained to dinner in the wardroom aboard HMS ATHELING ‡

A groups of crew members pose on the flight deck, these are mostly senior rates and includes two man from the RAF. Stoker Charles Kelly is third from right, front row.. Ω

Sports day (1)‡

Sports day (2) ‡

HMS ATHELING's own band the "ATHELING GREMLINS". ‡

The ship's Christmas card for 1944. Ω