ssMaritime.com is delighted to
present a feature on a remarkable ship, a ship that has become an icon to
countless thousands of travellers, be it those who sailed on her as soldiers,
those who left their homeland and ventured far across the sea, settling
“DownUnder” in Australia or New Zealand and those who enjoyed
cruising the South Pacific and Asia on this remarkable liner.
HMT(Her Majesty Transport) Oxfordshire was built as a Bibby Line troop ship. Later
she became the Sitmar Liner TSS
Fairstar sailing between Europe and Australia
and New Zealand,
until the Jet Age came, which saw migrants being transported Jumbo Jets.
Fairstar took on a new guise as a full time cruise ship. Sitmar Linestationed her in Sydney
and commenced cruising her year-round to New
Zealand and the South Pacific, with occasional cruises to
South East Asia. She became Australia’s
most famous cruise ship and was lovingly called the “FunShip.”
Fairstar
at the International Passenger terminal Sydney Australia
The name Fairstar conjures up joyful memories for up to a million people,
those who migrated from the UK
and Europe and those Aussies and Kiwis, who
ventured on the many cruises between 1965 and 1997. Fairstar had a varied and
an interesting career … from a proud British Troop Ship to a popular
Passenger Liner and full time Cruise Ship.
Part One - Bibby Line’s Oxfordshire
Designated hull 755, the ship was
built by Glasgow’s
Fairfield S.B. & Eng Co. Ltd, in the Govan yard. Somehow, the builders name
foretold part of her future name. She was ordered by Bibby Line, a company long
involved in transportation of troops for the British Government. She was
launched as the Oxfordshire on 15 December 1955 by Mrs Dorothea Head, wife of
the Minister of Defence. During her sea trials, Oxfordshire having an intended
service speed of around 17 knots actually achieved an average speed of 20.93
knots. She was handed over to her owners on 13 February 1957.
HMS Oxfordshire is launched and slips into the
Clyde
Author’s private
collection
Oxfordshire had
accommodations for 1000 troops in spartan troop dormitories, she also
accommodated up to 500 dependants in cabins. Whenever she carried fare-paying
passengers, accommodations were arranged as follows, 220 first class,
100-second class and 180-third class.
HMT Oxfordshire seen in Liverpool,
looking very smart! Victor Young & Len Sawyer Wellington
On
28 February 1957, under the command of Captain N. F. Fitch, Oxfordshire left
Liverpool on her maiden voyage for Hong Kong, travelling via Cape
Town, calling at Dakar, Durban, and Singapore. She remained on trooping
duties together with her almost identical sister ship, the 1956 built, Nevasa.
However, her career as a troop ship lasted just five short years, during which
time she had visited many parts of the world.
An
original Bibby Line Postcard of the Oxfordshire
Author’s
private collection
On January 10, 2006,
I received the following email from William Davis, who shared the following interesting
item …
“While researching my
National Service story, I was delighted to find your web-site [on HMT Oxfordshire]. It's many years since then,
but I was easily floated back to those six weeks in early 1960, when
Oxfordshire took this Clerk Gunner - and the 17th/21st Lancers
- from UK to Hong Hong. Later I had the good fortune to return on that
splendid ship.
May I share the following
anecdote?
… bedtimes were comfortable, full
of good-humoured camaraderie. Washing, teeth-cleaning and towel-fights,
finally simmer down to random laughter and low-key conversation. Before
lights-out and sleep, efforts were concentrated on reading a few pages, or
letter replies. The general lighting went out at eleven-ish I think, but soft
blue security-lights stayed on, and guys who couldn't sleep could read. In the
night, below the atonal snoring chorus and the hiss from the ventilation
blower’s, the deep reverberation from Oxfordshire’s powerful
engines was reassuring. I so enjoyed those quiet moments - but then I enjoyed
the whole voyage.”
From; ''7278, My National Service.
Service men relaxing on deck
HMT
Oxfordshire transported countless service men and woman to and fro from the UK to a range
of ports, however, her decline came about due to the rapidly changing
political scene. Both the Nevasa and Oxfordshire were withdrawn in October and
December 1962 respectively.
A
beautiful Painting of the Oxfordshire
by R H Hughes
Part Two - Captain N. F. Fitch
Master of the Oxfordshire
Sadly, Capt Norman F. Fitch passed away on 12 February, 1981. He is
survived by his wife Peggy and their two children, Doreen and Bob.Doreen’s son Nick Camilleri
(Malta)
kindly provided ssMaritime with details of the Captain and his family.
Captain
Norman F. Fitch, master of Oxfordshire
Provided by Nick Camilleri
A daughter was born
to Captain Norman and Peggy in 1940. Doreen was Nick Camilleri’s mother.
In addition a son, Bob, was born several years later.
Doreen was a physiotherapist in
the Royal Navy and she met her Maltese husband whilst stationed in Malta. Doreen
went on to pioneer physiotherapy in Malta. Bob, like his father became
a ships Master. He was Master of the Stena Seaspread during the Falklands conflict in 1982 and his ship was the first
support vessel to go to the aid of the Atlantic Conveyor after she had been
hit. He now owns his own vessel, which conducts radar surveys of shipping lanes
etc.
Photographs/Letters &
Telegrams on this and linked pages have been graciously provided Nick
Camilleri’s grandmother, Mrs. Peggy L Fitch, who currently resides in
West End, Southampton,
UK.
Above is a
Telegram sent to Captain Fitch on the occasion of the maiden voyage
Provided by Nick Camilleri
Below are two
letters that makes clear the delight of those who sailed on Oxfordshire, be
they soldiers and their families or full fare passengers.
Provided by
Nick Camilleri
Provided by
Nick Camilleri
The second page on
the Oxfordshire will cover her final voyage to the UK
from Malta.
Nick Camilleri, son of
Capt Fitch, sent me a number of excellent photos, company letters to the
Captain and newspaper cuttings all related to her final voyage.
PLEASE
NOTE: I receive hundreds of requests for Passenger Lists and
Sailing Schedules. I hereby wish to advise that I am unable to assist
due to time restrains and as most shipping companies have long gone these
lists/schedules are no longer available. I regret to advise that any request
for these will no longer be answered.
Photographs on ssMaritime and associated cruise sites are 1.
By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection.3. As provided by Shipping
Companies and private photographers. Credit is given to all contributors.
However, there are some photographs sent to us without details of the
photographer/owners concerned. We would therefore appreciate if owners of these
photographs would make themselves known to me, that due credit may be given.
The name Fairstar conjures up joyful memories for up to a million people,
those who migrated from the 
