The time is indicated by striking the hours and half-hours on the ship’s bell throughout each watch, in accordance with the table below so the time indicated is called “one bell,” “two bells”, etc. according to the number of times the bell is struck.
First half hour: One bell
First hour: Two bells
First hour and a half: Three bells
Second hour: Fourbells
Second half-hour and a half: Five bells
Third hour: Six bells
Third hour and a half: Seven bells
Fourth hour: Eight bells
Except for marking the time the ship’s bell is only struck to indicate the position of the ship when at anchor in a fog or bad visibility, or to sound the general alarm in the event of fire or other emergency.
The fog signal is the rapid ring of the bell for about five seconds every minute. For a general alarm the bell is rung rapidly for considerably longer than five seconds, and is then followed by a pipe indicating the nature of the emergency and giving orders for dealing with it. The general alarm is only sounded by the order of the Commanding Officer (Captain).
Another time the ship’s bell is rung is New Year’s Eve when it is struck 16 times – eight bells for the old year and eight bells for the New Year.
From those far off days of watches we now tell the time from our wristwatch.
