THE BELLS SYSTEM
In the Royal Navy the day is divided into seven parts, called watches which are named as follows (Note: The 24:00 hours' system is used):
00:00 to 04:00 - Middle Watch
04:00 to 08:00 - Morning Watch
08:00 to 12:00 - Forenoon Watch
12:00 to 16:00 - Afternoon Watch
16:00 to 18:00 - First Dog Watch
18:00 to 20:00 - Last Dog Watch
20:00 to 00:00 - First Watch
On board ship time is marked every half-hour by striking a bell, the number of strokes giving the time, as follows:
Midnight
00:00 8 Bells 00:30 1 Bell Middle Watch
01:00 2 Bells 01:30 3 Bells
02:00 4 Bells 02:30 5 Bells
03:00 6 Bells 03:30 7 Bells
04:00 8 Bells 04:30 1 Bell Morning Watch
05:00 2 Bells 05:30 3 Bells
06:00 4 Bells 06:30 5 Bells
07:00 6 Bells 07:30 7 Bells
08:00 8 Bells 08:30 1 Bell Forenoon Watch
09:00 2 Bells 09:30 3 Bells
10:00 4 Bells 10:30 5 Bells
11:00 6 Bells 11:30 7 Bells
Noon
12:00 8 Bells 12:30 1 Bell Afternoon Watch
13:00 2 Bells 13:30 3 Bells
14:00 4 Bells 14:30 5 Bells
15:00 6 Bells 15:30 7 Bells
16:00 8 Bells 16:30 1 Bell First Dog Watch
17:00 2 Bells 17:30 3 Bells
18:00 4 Bells 18:30 5 Bells Last Dog Watch
19:00 6 Bells 19:30 7 Bells
20:00 8 Bells 20:30 1 Bell First Watch
21:00 2 Bells 21:30 3 Bells
22:00 4 Bells 22:30 5 Bells
23:00 6 Bells 23:30 7 Bells
Information taken from "A Seaman's Pocket-Book" - June 1943
00:00 to 04:00 - Middle Watch
04:00 to 08:00 - Morning Watch
08:00 to 12:00 - Forenoon Watch
12:00 to 16:00 - Afternoon Watch
16:00 to 18:00 - First Dog Watch
18:00 to 20:00 - Last Dog Watch
20:00 to 00:00 - First Watch
On board ship time is marked every half-hour by striking a bell, the number of strokes giving the time, as follows:
Midnight
00:00 8 Bells 00:30 1 Bell Middle Watch
01:00 2 Bells 01:30 3 Bells
02:00 4 Bells 02:30 5 Bells
03:00 6 Bells 03:30 7 Bells
04:00 8 Bells 04:30 1 Bell Morning Watch
05:00 2 Bells 05:30 3 Bells
06:00 4 Bells 06:30 5 Bells
07:00 6 Bells 07:30 7 Bells
08:00 8 Bells 08:30 1 Bell Forenoon Watch
09:00 2 Bells 09:30 3 Bells
10:00 4 Bells 10:30 5 Bells
11:00 6 Bells 11:30 7 Bells
Noon
12:00 8 Bells 12:30 1 Bell Afternoon Watch
13:00 2 Bells 13:30 3 Bells
14:00 4 Bells 14:30 5 Bells
15:00 6 Bells 15:30 7 Bells
16:00 8 Bells 16:30 1 Bell First Dog Watch
17:00 2 Bells 17:30 3 Bells
18:00 4 Bells 18:30 5 Bells Last Dog Watch
19:00 6 Bells 19:30 7 Bells
20:00 8 Bells 20:30 1 Bell First Watch
21:00 2 Bells 21:30 3 Bells
22:00 4 Bells 22:30 5 Bells
23:00 6 Bells 23:30 7 Bells
Information taken from "A Seaman's Pocket-Book" - June 1943