The ship's bell (colour photo)

The ship's bell. In the British Navy it has been the custom for several centuries to denote the hour by the striking of a bell. Until 1857 the time was reckoned by a "half hour sand glass" and, as the latter was turned, the bell was struck. Although ships are now equipped with the most modern time-keeping devices, ship's bells are still used, being struck once at the end of the first half hour of a watch, twice at the second half hour, and so on, up to eight bells at the end of the fourth hour. Duty in a ship is divided into watches of four hours' duration, with the exception of the two dog watches of two hours each between 4 and 8 pm. We show the Ship's Bell on board HMS Hood. Illustration for one of a set of 50 cigarette cards on the subject of Interesting Customs and Traditions of the Navy, Army and Airforce issued by Lambert & Butler in 1939.