Converted to aircraft carrier at Rosyth Dockyard and Devonport Dockyard from 1 February 1924 until 10 March 1930. Recommissioned on 7 January 1930, this was prior to the completion of her conversion.

At the outbreak of the Second World War HMS Glorious was stationed at Alexandria with the Mediterranean Fleet. In October 1939, HMS Glorious was part of Force I, supported by the battleship HMS Malaya she patrolled the Gulf of Aden in search of German merchant ships and the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee.

With the invasion of Norway on 9 April 1940, HMS Glorious was recalled to England with great haste, she left Malta on 11 April 1940. During the Norwegian Campaign HMS Glorious was almost fully employed in transporting RAF aircraft to Norway. During the withdrawl from Norway, HMS Glorious (Capt. Guy D'Oyly-Hughes, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) and her escorting destroyers HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent were caught by the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau with a full deck of Hurricanes and Gladiators, and unable to launch her aircraft she was sunk with great loss of life in position in position 68º30'N, 03º50'E. There were only 43 survivors.

Commanding Officer:
Capt. Guy D\'Oyly-Hughes, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN
19 May 1939 – 8 June 1940+