Description

1958 Copies of 4 official letters plus a Naval Signal including a manuscript note in the hand of the Governor E.P. Arrowsmith regarding a request for  passage from the Falklands to Chile on HMS Burghead Bay from a British civilian national, comprising 19 May copy letter Colonial Secretary’s Office to C.O. HMS Burghead Bay at Stanley regarding an application from M.A. Fitch for passage to Chile together with his motor cycle & dog… 26 May Reply from HMS Burghead Bay confirming Fitch can be accommodated…10 June restricted Naval Signal from C in C SASA to Burghead Bay © to  Governor F.I. notifying that must be kept informed of movements & in particular of intention to visit foreign ports in order to obtain necessary clearance…. 13 Jun from British Consulate, Punta Arenas, Chile to Commander HMS Burghead Bay, Punta Arenas informing that Fitch arrived here on your vessel from F.I. with a three month tourist visa on misunderstood prospects of work and very little money. He is as such a distressed British subject and I would request that you convey him to the UK…..19 Jun from HMS Burghead Bay at Sea to H.E. the Governor & C in C Falkland Is. & Dependencies attaching copy letter [Not Present] w/manu comment from Governor “We shd. be v. careful about this sort of application. If we are not we will get no passages in H,M, Ships” initialled EPA (Edwin Porter Arrowsmith Governor 1957-64) & dated 4-8-58………….HMS Burghead Bay sailed for the F.I. for her 3rd & final tour of duty as Guard Ship to the F.I. & dependencies in May 1958. She departed the F.I in June the following month for the UK making calls at Chile & Peru before transiting the Panama Canal & arrived Devonport in Aug 1958…..Her last stay in the F. I was very short, a wonderful, interesting  & historic group showing how the British Navy can be taken advantage of.