Click the logo above to reach the ssMaritime FrontPage for News Updates & “Ship of the Month”

With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian, Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer & Author

HMT Oxfordshire

The Troop Ship that became “Fairstar the Funship”

Oxfordshire berthed in Southampton

Author’s private collection

Introduction

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 Line stationed 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.”

Above & Below: 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.

This painting is Copyright .H. Hughes.

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

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.

Fairstar Main INDEX

Part 1 … Oxfordshire – history

Part 2 … Oxfordshire the final voyage

Part 3 … Fairstar History & Page One

Part 4 … Fairstar Photo Album

Part 5 … Fairstar Deck Plan

Also … Read the Fair Princess Story

**************************************

Use the Back button on your browser or Close the Page to return to the previous page
or go to our INDEX

***********************************

Who is the Author of ssMaritime?

Commenced in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net

Where the ships of the past make history & the 1914 built MV Doulos Story

Also visit my …

“Save The Classic Liners Campaign” & “Classic Ocean Voyages” pages

And …

www.Cruise-Australia.com

Photographs on ssmaritime and associate pages are by the author or from the author’s private collection. In addition there are some images that have been provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding the photographer/owner concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me (my email address may be found on www.ssmaritime.com only), in order that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet these individuals either refuse to provide credit or remove them when asked, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show these charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due!

This notice covers all pages, although, and I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page is updated!