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 Conception TSS Oxfordshire "Conox" Fairstar liner voyages Fairstar - the 'Funship' Fairstar's Finalé Fairstar Reunion Chronology
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Conception for a new troopship In the early 1950s, the British War Office regularly required the transportation of troops to troublesome countries that were part of the Empire. The British Ministry of Transport had contracts with several shipping lines to transport the officers, troops and their families. One particular shipping company, The Bibby Line, had a long history of transporting troops; in fact from as early as 1854 during the Crimean War. The Bibby Line was made an attractive offer by the British Government to build a new vessel for troop transport. The company sold the original 1912 Oxfordshire and plans for the new ship were underway with the vessel to be built at the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Glasgow. There was a two year delay until the construction of the new ship commenced due to a lack of shipyard space. The shipbuilder eventually assigned the Govan yard, located on the Clyde River, not far from Glasgow. The keel of the new Oxfordshire (designated as 'Ship No 755') was laid down with 8,396 tons of steel assigned for the construction. Timber and fittings weighed an additional 4,165 tons. Interestingly, only 7,345 tons of steel was actually used, due to an oversight by the designers! On 15 December 1955 the Oxfordshire was launched by Lady Dorothea Head, wife of the Minister for War, Lord Head. Fitting out of Oxfordshire took over a year, with her sea trials commencing on 29th January 1957. Oxfordshire achieved a speed of 20.93 knots over the Arran mile during the trials.
The Oxfordshire was officially handed over to the Bibby Line on 14th February 1957 when she steamed towards Liverpool to commence her trooping role.
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