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Striking Sixteen Bells
Midnight 31st December/1st January is marked by the striking of 16 bells - 8 for the old year and 8 for the new. The youngest officer on board has the privilege (sic) of doing this. It used to be a custom to play practical jokes on this officer, such as smearing the bell-rope with marmalade (but not jam), or even connecting up electricity so that the lad got a mild shock when he grasped the bell-rope.

CHRIST IS NOTHING SACRED!!
if you cant ring your bell without people tampering with it
then its wrong!!

Naval Traditions! The best Naval tradition ceased on the 31st of July 1970 'Last Day of Issue Navy Rum'.'Up Spirits' The rallying call in a public house brawl.Thus every day at six bells in the forenoon the bugler would sounded the rum call a small procession wound Its way below to the spirit room,leading the way a Seaman or Marine traditionally known as 'Tanky' who would carry with them a small brass-bound barrico,and from a tapped cask the required quantity of neat spirit was drawn off and measured into the barrico,which was then padlocked and taken on deck.There the traditional wooden Rum tub had been placed in readiness together with an array of copper measures for mixing and serving the Grog.and regardless of what Harry said I never put my thumb into the tot measure.Aye JR

There was also the traditional hurling oneself through the hatch of the chogie laundry, when the little bastards decided that enough was enough, once Royal re-embarked after two weeks idling in the sands of wherever.
Various wounds were displayed, generally metal hatch bars across the forearms, occasionally teeth marks, as if Bugs Bunny had savaged your wrist.
"No yooo goway, no do more smelly londley, and you fluk yosell too Loyal."

Well can any navy lads tell me about the golden rivet?lol

Ahoy there Alex!
Tell you about it?
Just bend over and take a look down there on the deck and you will see it for your self.

Jim, ref show a leg,
As hammocks were slung between the gun-ports, and visits to home ports were rare, the practice of "having" one`s pash on board sometimes resulted in conception. If the product of such a union were male( as in your case ) he would be referred to as "A Son of a Gun"
At least, that`s what it says on your birth certificate, under "Fathers Name"
Who let the cat out of the bag?
Easy, Aye

Bloody hell Harry,How did you know that the 'Old Man' was a seaman gunner.Aye JR

Banyan : Tropical picnic held ashore by a ship's company while deployed at sea. Often the beach chosen is on some deserted island, so clothing becomes bright and colourful - banyan rig - and the informal tone of proceedings is both relaxed and refreshing for officers and ratings alike.

and the informal tone of proceedings is both relaxed and refreshing for officers and ratings alike.

I can't see that can you? One emergency and it will be 'chinese fire drills' all round.

I can see me having a banyan then moments later getting 'rubber dic*ed' by the CPO!

Do they still have banyans in the navy?

PHIL

Well now we know..... so its HARRY THE GUN and not Hackdorff..... eh. Always wondered, I think he must be a closeted matelot really!

PHIL, a banyan, and as far as I know they still have em, can be any where, not just some tropical isle, we had one in the Falklands 71 where we Burnt a sheep and scuppered copious amounts of Tennants..... Oh and a few bottles of skey (Whisky) those were the days when the falklands were owned by the Falkland Island Company, EVERYONE was a company man and life was Feudal More info upon request.
Aye

Mike do Junior Tiffs have banyans too.
I dont want have to entertain hairy ars* stokers and their rivets on ship.

P.S Is there any card games other than 'chase the pisser' (my dad told me that one!)

PHIL

Phil.... everyond goes on a Banyan.....as for card games....not really my forte....however I do remember cribbage being played alot... Uckers was the game in the RN in my day mixy blobs and all that, Uckers is/was the same as Ludo....
Aye

Banyan,During the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth she made a few changes to the victualing of the Fleet the Crown was guilty of sharp practice regarding the issue of food,the meat allowance was fixed at two pounds per man with the issue of half pound of butter six in a month,the same amount of cheese added.On the days when meat was not issued ,known officially as 'fast days',the sailor was entitled to one and a half pounds of salt fish,he was thus brought into line with civillians ashore,for Queen Elizabeth had caused a number of laws to be passed,ordering the observance by the populace of 'fish days'.Thus none of her subjects were allowed to eat to eat meat during lent or on Fridays-sometimes wednesdays were added.Sailors denied meat on Mondays,Wednesdays and Fridays and accordingly dubbed these days 'Banyan days'.This term was derived from a East Indian sect who would not kill any animal or eat flesh.The usual dress worn by these people was a loose flowing garment known as a 'banion' so wide spread did this nautical expression become that it soon found its way ashore to become a Banyan Party.Aye JR Trust me My 'Old Man' awas a Sailor but I forgave him.

How old do you think I feel when my brat phoned me from Israel on her last trip on Invince.
"Where are you Love?"
"Banyan dad, it's brills!"

Banyan party's,landed on a small island in one of the Norwegian Fiord's from HMS Striker for a Banyan only to find it was one of those islands that the Nudist folk inhabit,Good Banyan party?.aye JR