Ships Bells

[George Edwards]

Hello again folks.
Thank you so very much for all your replies.
The golf course in question, where the bell is situated, is Kirriemuir Golf Course, in Angus, which is approx 15 miles north of Dundee, and 6 miles west of Forfar.
An old seafarer asked me if I could find out where the bell came from, and with all your brilliant help, I can now tell him.
I was in the merchant navy for 3 years, serving on the QE1, Qeen Mary1, and the NZ Company.
Now that I have found this site, I will visit more often.
Thank you all again.

[Pete Leonard (Bruno)]

Ships Bells JSabourn

I was a little saddened to know that the sounding of the bells had been discontinued. The most amusing story I heard about this practice concerned the foc'sle head lookout. The bridge would sound their bell and the lookout would answer with his bell on the foremast. He would then walk from one side to the other to check on the navigation lights and hail the bridge with "lights are bright" and the officer of the watch would reply "thank you". But if the weather was a bit rough and windy the lads would call out anything that sounded like "lights are bright" The favourite one was "up you pipe" "thank you"

[Keith at Tregenna]

Gladiola; 46 tons; Registred at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Registration no. 100478.

On the 9th January 1950, Gladiola ran aground, off Cape Auguet, Isle Madame.

K.

[j.sabourn]

Bruno, know what you mean. I suppose it may have been discontinued when there was no helmsman there to strike. It was always with great relish when 1 bell was struck, the next 15 minutes used to be anxiously hoping your relief had not slept in. Never saw lookouts on forecastle also after the 60"s. In the earlier days Radar was considered unreliable and most Masters would not let it be used. However nowadays nearly all the modern day watchkeepers put their total reliance on, goes against all the rules and regulations we were brought up with. Same as the present day GPS systems, anyone could find their way around the world now, always makes me wonder what all the fuss is about when you read about such and such circumnavigating the globe. Doesnt take any skills as such. Only the endurance of probably being alone in a small craft, a lot of people would not consider this any hardship as such, as may prefer their own company. Cheers J.Sabourn

[Bev Summerill]

The best bells at sea was 4 bells rum which I was always testing the quality

Bev summerill

[Keith at Tregenna]

Hello everyone.
At our local golf course, we have a ships bell on the 4th hole, and nobody seems to know where it came from.
The bell is inscribed "Gladiola"
Is there a way to track where it came from?
Any help would be most appreciated.
Thanks folks.

Any chance you could take a couple of pics and attach out of interest.

Thanks K.

[j.sabourn]

George, Hope they got an old time seaman to put a decent Bell Rope on. Cant be many left now. regards J. Sabourn

[Capt Bill Davies]

The BF men amongst the membership will recall an anomaly with the foc'sle lookout reporting ships.
One to Port, Two to Stbd and Three dead ahead.

[Trader]

The BF men amongst the membership will recall an anomaly with the foc'sle lookout reporting ships.
One to Port, Two to Stbd and Three dead ahead.

Remember it well Bill. Why did they have to be different ?.

Alec.

[Capt Bill Davies]

Remember it well Bill. Why did they have to be different ?.

Alec.

Alec,

I don't really know. Everywhere else in the British Merchant Navy a Samson post was a Samson post but in the BF it was a column. There were many BF peculiarities.

Brgds

Bill