H.M.S. EMPRESS Gallery

HMS EMPRESS gallery

Images and memorabilia from the private collection of the author. mages marked ♣ are from the private collection of Lt (A) John Ratcliffe Whitaker RNVR. Images marked ♠ are from the private collection of John Browne who served in the engine room aboard HMS EMPRESS, kindly supplied by his son-in-law Mr. Arthur Russ. 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.

850 Squadron joins EMPRESS off Vancouver, Febraury 1944 & passage to the UK April 1944

Avenger Torpedo Bomber from 850 Squadron coming up from EMPRESS' hangar to be prepared for flying operations pff the U.S Wet coast, February 1944. (1)

Avenger Torpedo Bomber from 850 Squadron coming up from RMPRESS' hangar to be prepared for flying operations pff the U.S Wet coast, February 1944. (2)

Avenger Torpedo Bomber from 850 Squadron coming up from EMPRESS' hangar to be prepared for flying operations pff the U.S Wet coast, February 1944 (3).

Avenger Torpedo Bomber from 850 Squadron ranged on EMPRESS' flight deck ready for flying operations pff the U.S Wet coast, February 1944.

Avenger Torpedo Bomber from 850 Squadron being prepared for flying operations pff the U.S Wet coast, February 1944.

Avenger Torpedo Bomber from 850 Squadron making its taKe off run on EMPRESS for flying operations pff the U.S Wet coast, February 1944. (1)

Avenger Torpedo Bomber from 850 Squadron making its taKe off run on EMPRESS for flying operations pff the U.S Wet coast, February 1944. (2)

Avenger Torpedo Bomber from 850 Squadron croissing the rounddown landing on EMPRESS during flying operations pff the U.S Wet coast, February 1944. (1)

Touch down. an 850 Squadron Avenger has come to a stop after being arrested and members of the flight deck patry rush out to chock the main wheels.

March 1933: A Wildcat being craned aboard at Norfolk, part of a ferry load of Lend-Lease American aircraft for passage to the UK © IWM (A 26813)

A group of young boys are shown around one of the ship's twin Bofors mounts - the date on the back of this photo is given as March 31st 1944 while Empress was making her maiden voyage to the UK. It is possible these boys were passengers embarked at New York, returning home after being evacuated to the US earlier in the war.

April 1944: Lieutenant G White, RNR, who acted as "foster father" to the boy evacuees on the trip, with some of his large "family". In front of him is Charles Laing, whose elder brother won a DSC while serving in a similar escort carrier. © IWM (A 25192)

April 1944: Lieutenant G White, RNR, who acted as "foster father" to the boy evacuees on the trip, looking at the mess flat given over to them as a dormitory to see that his charges are tucked in for the night. © IWM (A 25193)

April 1944: A Wardroom scene during the voyage from New York to the UK. On the right is Mrs A. I. W. Laing,, and next to her is Miss Barbara Laing. Opposite is Mrs J. L. Pullar and her husband, Sub Lieutenant Pullar. ©IWM (A 25197)

Deck Landing Training and working up

Deck landing trials: An Avenger begins itstake off run with a Barracuda sits on the aft end of the filght deck with its engine running wwaiting to begin its take off.

Firefly Z2022 ('E':'4D') of 1772 naval air squadron pictured on November 25th 1944 shortly after ending up in the barrier on HMS Empress. The aircraft flown by Sub-Lt I. T. O' Driscoll crashed when the arrestor hook bounced on landing and missed all the arrestor wires.

Firefly Z1984 of 1772 Squadron from RNAS Burscough, flown by Midshipman R. P. Hubble RNVR, has caught No.8 wire landing on EMPRESS, its port wheel has gone over the deck edge and shredded its propeller, November 26th 1944

November 14th 1944: Sub-Lt A. D. Kineham RNVR, in Swordfish NF216 of 766 Squadron from RNAS Inskip, bounced on landing and slipped into the port walkway. Aircraft handling parties are running out hoses and foam in case of fire. ©IWM (A 26812)

The funeral of Sub Lieutenant (E) Charles Bernard Coleman RNVR, who was killed in an accident on Thursday, September 7th 1944, aboard the ship. Empress was operating off the west coast of Scotland, conducting deck landing training when the accident occurred; these two photos show his burial in Greenock cemetery.

Vice-Admiral Sir Arthur Lumley St George Lyster, KCB, CVO, CBE, DSO, Flag Officer Flying Training visits HMS Empress during her working up period prior to sailing for the East Indies Fleet. Also pictured is Captain H.A. Traill RN commanding officer HMS Empress.

Operations with Eastern Fleet Escort Carrier Squadron: July 1944 -September 1945

Captain H.A. Traill RN commanding officer HMS Empress leads the way as Vice Admiral Clement Moody RN, Flag Officer (Air) East Indies, visits the ship in Ceylon.

Vice Admiral Clement Moody RN meets some of the ships officers on the hanger deck of HMS Empress.

Vice Admiral Clement Moody RN enjoys a drink as the guest of the wardroom during his visit to HMS Empress.

Visit of Rear Admiral G N Oliver, Rear-Admiral Commanding 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron, inspects members of the ship’s company on the flight deck of the escort carrier HMS Empress at Trincomalee, Ceylon. (1)

Captain H.A. Traill RN commanding officer HMS Empress leads the way as Vice Admiral Sir Arthur John Power RN C.B., C.V.O., C-in-C East Indies Fleet, visits the ship

Vice Admiral HTC Walker RN, Flag Officer Commanding 3rd Battle Squadron & Second-in-Command, East Indies Fleet (Left), Captain H.A. Traill RN (rear) and Commander Briggs? during Operation "STACEY".

Aircrew from845 squadron aboard HMS Empress posed with one of their Avenger aircraft. This photo was taken on March 5th 1945 when the ship was disengaging from Operation "STACEY".

March 1945: Armourers preparing to load ordinance onto Hellcats for an upcoming operation

March 1945: Hellcats of 804 Sqn fitted with long-range tanks, just about to be catapulted off HMS EMPRESS. © IWM (A 28068).

One of 804 squadron's Hellcats as it is caught by the barrier after missing all of the arrestor wires.

Some of the maintenance personnel opf 804 squadron. ♣

Operation LIVERY July 1945: Captain J R S Brown, RN, explains the operation to his ship's company on the flight deck, AMER can be seen in the background. © IWM (A 30437)

August 15th 1945 - Japan has surrendered, and ships in Trincomalee harbour fire off pyrotechnics to celebrate (1). ♠

August 15th 1945 - Japan has surrendered, and ships in Trincomalee harbour fire off pyrotechnics to celebrate (2).♠

August 15th 1945 - Japan has surrendered, and ships in Trincomalee harbour fire off pyrotechnics to celebrate (3).♠

The assembled players - King Neptune, the surgeon barber, the constables and the bears.♠

The 'Royal Procession' the arrival of King Neptune.♠

Thje captain has an audience with King Neptune.♠

King Neptune and his retinue watch as the “Bears” wait for their first victim.♠

The ship's "barber" gives the inductee a shave.♠

Let the dunking commence: the initiate is ready to be dumped from the barber’s chair into the arms of the waiting "Bears".♠

The "bears" continue to dunk the inductee until satisfied. Once released, the sailor becomes part of the order of the deep and receives a certificate to prove his new status. ♠

Example of the certificate awarded on crossing the line.