[Bell Historians] Ship's bell - which ship? 1936-1952

[Mike Chester]

Submarines were kitted out with a bell, but these were usually removed before they went on patrol in wartime to avoid the possibility of them giving away the position of the submarine

I have found this photo

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1207325404754945&set=a.454641900023303

I suggests that Royal Navy bells were named, rather than simply numbered, and were cast with canons, not a tang like this one.

Mike
________________________________
From: Bell-historians <bell-historians-bounces at lists.ringingworld.co.uk> on behalf of Liane G via Bell-historians <bell-historians at lists.ringingworld.co.uk>
Sent: 12 March 2026 14:10
To: bell-historians at lists.ringingworld.co.uk <bell-historians at lists.ringingworld.co.uk>
Cc: Liane G <lmj.greter at gmail.com>
Subject: [Bell Historians] Ship's bell - which ship? 1936-1952


Good day from across the pond!

As a Dutch navy officer, coming from a line of army officers, I was given custodian of a RN ship's bell that was in my grandfather's (Johan Jacob Greter) possession.
He was a WWII veteran, who was able to escape his captivity by jumping of a train, making his way through the southern passage to Spain, and came to England with a British submarine. He then (1944) became a liaison in the RAF.

Now my question has not to do with him, but with that particular ship's bell.
I don't know where or how he obtained it, and I am very curious about its origins.
My father told me it must be from the submarine P323 , HMS Terrapin. But I find it hard to believe they would have a bell like that, and they would not write 323 on it without the P.
I know there was a destroyer with that number, but that would also be not very credible, I find.
Maybe it would be a bell from a smaller vessel, or an installation number?

It is a heavy bell, 9.5 inch diameter, King George VI Tudor crown, and the number 323.
Attached are some pictures.
I took it with me on my move from The Netherlands to Canada in 2013.

I hope that one of you, bell-historians, knows the answer.
And if it might be of any interest to one of you, I would consider arranging a sale and transfer to your side of the pond...

My warmest regards,

Liane Greter

Cell 1 506 212 4646

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