HC Deb 12 November 1918 vol 110 c2564W
Mr. KING

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, on the conclusion of an armistice with Germany, he will arrange for the great clock to chime and the bell called "Big Ben" to strike the hours as before the War?

Sir ALFRED MOND

The striking mechanism of the great clock is so complicated that it will require from two to three weeks to get it into working order again, but immediate steps were taken yesterday to bring such portion of the chiming mechanism into operation as was possible in the circumstances, and the bell called "Big Ben" started striking the hours at one o'clock in the afternoon.