AVG-33 (later AVC-33 and CVE-33) was initally named Glacier, for Glacier Bay, a estuary in Alaska, 18 miles west of Juneau (NS0303318).

She was one of a large group of escort carriers transferred to Great Britain under Lend-Lease. Glacier was transferred 31 July 1943 at Vancouver, B.C. and became HMS Atheling. "Atheling" is an Anglo-Saxon prince or nobleman, and especially the heir apparent or a prince of the royal family. The crown in the Coat of Arms reflects the royal connection, while the sword and spear represent the struggle against Danish invaders.

(Map courtesy of Google Maps Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.. Ship's badge courtesy of Tommy Trampp.)

Undated pic of the RN officer's wardroom aboard HMS Atheling. The presence of ladies shows that the ship is in port. Photo via the late Mrs M.J. Schupke.

Photo and text from The Fleet Air Arm Handbook, 1939–1945, by David Wragg.

Undated pic showing Corsair and Hellcat fighters stowed away in the cramped hangar deck of the escort carrier HMS Atheling. The photo was taken during anti-shipping operations off the Norwegian Coast, prior to the formation of the British Pacific Fleet. Fleet Air Arm Museum.

Photo and text from The British Aircraft Carrier, by Paul Beaver.

Undated pic of HMS Atheling (D51) underway, leaving an unidentified UK port while enroute to join the BPF (British Pacific Fleet) as a fleet train carrier and spare flight deck. Photo courtesy BBA Collection.

Photo and text from Supermarine Seafire by Kev Darling.

HMS Atheling (D51), ex-USS Glacier (CVE-33), date and location unknown.

HMS Atheling (D51), ex-USS Glacier (CVE-33), date and location unknown.

HMS Atheling (D51), ex-USS Glacier (CVE-33), with tugboat Eagle, date and location unknown.

HMS Atheling (D51), ex-USS Glacier (CVE-33), photographed by a ZP-12 blimp, on 22 December 1943. She has a deck load of U.S. Navy aircraft types in British markings, including: 10 Harvard trainers (SNJ), 18 Tarpon torpedo-bombers (TBM Avenger), and 7 Hellcat fighters (F6F).

National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-450245.

HMS Atheling (D51) at anchor off Greenock, Scotland, 22 February 1944. Photo by Lieutenant S.J. Beadell, Royal Navy official photographer. Imperial War Museums Photo No: A 21918.

HMS Atheling (D51) at anchor off Greenock, Scotland, 22 February 1944. Photo by Lieutenant S.J. Beadell, Royal Navy official photographer. Imperial War Museums Photo, No: A 21919.

HMS Atheling (D51), ex-Glacier (CVE-33), departing Malta (early 1944?).

HMS Atheling (D51), ex-Glacier (CVE-33), departing Malta (early 1944, as above?).

HMS Atheling (D51), ex-Glacier (CVE-33), as a Supermarine Seafire F.Mk.111 of No. 889 Squadron is being lifted by winch up to the carrier's flight deck. Another Seafire F.Mk.111 awaits its turn on the lighter alongside. RNAS Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), 13 May 1944. Photo Rick Harding Collection.

Photo and partial text from Supermarine Seafire by Kev Darling. Partial text courtesy of Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers.

The same Seafire F.Mk.111 of No. 889 Squadron as in picture NS0303306, above, being lowered on to Atheling's flight deck. RNAS Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), 13 May 1944. Photo Rick Harding Collection.

Photo and partial text from Supermarine Seafire by Kev Darling. Partial text courtesy of Tony Drury, Royal Navy Escort Carriers.

Wildcat JV508 of 890 Squadron goes into the barrier, 15 May 1944, while HMS Atheling worked up as a fighter carrier with the East Indies Fleet.

Photo from the collection of the late John Vallely, Sub Lt. (A) RNVR.

(Thans to Oliver Prout, grandson of a pilot in 890 Squadron, who provided additional information.)

(Digitally cleaned by Tom Kermen.)

Port side view of HMS Atheling (D51) underway on 30 December 1944. The ship is loaded, being used as an aircraft ferry. Hellcats (F6F), Corsairs (F4U), and light observation aircraft are visible, along with equipment and supplies.

Australian War Memorial photo # 302308.

HMS Atheling, 1945. Note side-wheel paddle harbor tug alongside. Photo credit P.A. Vicary.

"[Tuesday,] December 18, 1945: Lend-Lease comes to Melbourne, in the winsome form of the escort carrier HMS Atheling."

Photo by Allan C. Green (1878–1954).

Port bow view of HMS Atheling (D51) on 18 December 1945 at Melbourne, Australia. The ship was modified in January 1944 to operate fighter aircraft, but was mainly used as an aircraft ferry transport in the Far East for both the British and U.S. Fleets.

Source: State Library of Victoria, Photo No. H91.108.2080.

Ex-HMS Atheling (D51), formerly USS Glacier (CVE-33), was bought by Italian shipping tycoon Achille Lauro in 1949, converted to a passenger vessel in Italy, in 1951, and renamed Roma.

She started, along with her sister Sydney—ex-HMS Fencer (D64), formerly USS Croatan (CVE-14)—as a passenger vessel on the Mediterranean-Australia route, but was transferred to the North Atlantic beat (Mediterranean-USA) in 1953. After a major refit, the ship was transferred again to the Mediterranean-Australia route in 1956. She was laid up in La Spezia, Italy, in 1967 and scrapped in Vado, Italy, starting December 1967.

Location and exact dates of photos are not known. Color photo may have been taken in Australia.

It is worth noting that Sydney was renamed Roma after her sister by that name was withdrawn from service. Both vessels just differed in details and this is a source of many confusions.

The passenger steamship SS Roma (ex-HMS Atheling) date and location unknown.

Item is held by John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. StateLibQld 1 172131.

(Thanks to Gerhard Mueller-Debus for confirming the ship's former identity, as it is not easy to tell her from her sister Sydney/Roma.)