HMT Oxfordshire

The Troop Ship that became “Fairstar the Funship”

Captain Norman F. Fitch, master of HMT Oxfordshire

Provided by Nick Camilleri

Captain Fitch served on the Oxfordshire from her maiden voyage until her final voyage and decommissioning in the River Fal. Letters, photos and clippings on this page (except those marked otherwise) were provided by the late Captains son. We are grateful to him for his cooperation.

Oxfordshire seen anchored in Aden mid 1962

Al though HMT Oxfordshire was to be withdrawn from service after her final voyage to Malta, she had a busy year. But, all too soon the time came for her final departure. She departed Southampton on December 3, 1962, heading for Valetta Malta, sailing via Gibraltar.

One soldier on that voyage wrote “On the 3rd December 1962, the battalion embarked at Southampton in the ageing (she was only five years old, far from ageing) troopship, HMT Oxfordshire, for service in Malta. This was an historic occasion as it was the last unit to leave the United Kingdom in a Troopship for service overseas. The journey lasted a week, included in it a stop at Gibraltar to replenish the ship's beer stocks.”

Having offloaded her complement in Malta, more servicemen boarded and she was about to undertake an historic voyage.

HMT Oxfordshire departed Malta at 1500 hours for her final voyage to Southampton on December 13, 1962. As can be seen by the letter sent by Lieutenant Commander J. P. Donovan to Captain Fitch, Oxfordshire carried 965 servicemen, including the 1st Battalion, Royal Highland Fusiliers.

Below are photographs and a newspaper article of Oxfordshire’s final departure from Valetta Malta, as obviously it was a major occasion! The photographs give their own commentary, thus, I do not have to write ant.

She obviously received a suitable send off!

HMT Oxfordshire return home

After disembarking her last complement, Oxfordshire headed for Falmouth in Cornwall and was laid up. In February 1963, Bibby Line and Vlasov subsidiary, Fairlane Shipping Corporation signed a six year charter agreement, with option to purchase her at a later date. She departed on May 17 for the Netherlands where she would rebuilt as a passenger liner at the Wilton-Fijenoord shipbuilding Yard in Schiedam. However, the rebuilding and final fitting out was completed at Harland & Wolff.

In February, whist Oxfordshire was still being rebuilt she was officially sold to Societa Italiana Trasporti Marittimi (Sitmar / Fairline Shipping Corp, Monrovia) who renamed her Fairstar. The sale of the Oxfordshire was reported in a letter (shown below) to Captain Fitch.

She was officially handed over to her new owners in May 1964 and she departed Southampton for her maiden voyage to Australia on May 19, 1964. Continue to the Fairstar Page via the links below.

The substantially rebuilt HMT Oxfordshire becomes the liner TSS Fairstar

Photograph by William C. Daldy

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

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Commenced in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

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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!

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