Thanks forcall the replies. Sorry I've been a bit quiet, trying to stop buildings blowing away after Saturdays gale.
All the information is much appreciated , although I'm still no closer to finding out how the photo got into mums collection. The maritime history of our family mum had traced back to Napoleon being exiled to Elba, Scott and Shackleton, through to the search for the North West passage and of course the whaling, North and South, before and after the wars. But there's nothing I can find about carrier ops. I can only surmise that it must have been a friend and not relative who sent the photo. But its great to have all the information and it will go on the back of the photo further future generations.
Thanks again.