Andy,
rearward facing seats were the norm for RAF transport a/c at the time, apart from the Hercules which was called a 'troop carrier' with the infamous sideways facing para seats. Rearwards facing was regarded as the safest system in the event of a crash . Pax aft of freight was also the norm until the advent of the 'K' and then the normal rules were mostly waived for this 'troop carrier'.