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ACME Whistles: A proud military history
- September 18, 2022
In 2020, ACME Whistles was proud to celebrate 150 years of whistle making, and in all that time we have played an unexpected role in some of the most culturally and historically important events of recent generations. We are most proud of the fact that we were able to support our troops and allies throughout WWI and WWII, and continue to support the Royal British Legion today through our sales of the Peace Whistle.
The ACME Clicker
To get a more complete picture of the links between ACME Whistles and WWI and WWII we will first look into the background of one of our most iconic products: the Clicker. The 101st American Airborne Division was scheduled to take part in a top secret mission in June, 1944. These highly skilled light infantry soldiers were required to parachute into dangerous territory under the cover of night. Unable to use regular communication methods, the division needed a means of communicating with one another without giving away their positions.
ACME Whistles were tasked with creating an auditory device that would help the soldiers to carry out their classified mission, and the Clicker was born. At the time, the purpose of the Clickers was privileged information, and only those at the top knew exactly what it would be used for. Such a small, seemingly simple device was able to play a large role in ensuring success against the odds, and following the war many went missing or were relegated, forgotten, in basements and attics all over the world.
Back in 2019, we ran an effort to find the lost D-Day clickers, called the ‘Search for the Lost Clickers’ campaign, which was incredibly successful and shed light on the fate of many of these humble devices. To this day, lost D-Day Clickers turn up now and then, and we always encourage their finders to contact us as there are often important personal stories attached to them. The Clicker is just one of several WWI whistles and accessories that were much relied on at the time.
Trench whistles
During WWI, ACME Whistles was tasked with manufacturing the whistles that were used to issue ‘over the top’ signals, and as such certain models gained the nickname ‘trench whistles’. The quality of the manufacturing, and the speed at which ACME was able to respond to the changing needs of the British military, ensured ACME’s role as the official manufacturer of government-issue infantry whistles.
These trench whistles are still made in our Birmingham factory to this day, using the same techniques and much of the same equipment that was used during WWI. The haunting call of these WWI trench whistles can be heard to this day in films and commemorative events, and these days we produce them in a wider range of finishes for our modern audience. They are popular with former servicemen and women, history buffs, film and TV prop departments, and among whistle collectors to name a few.
WWII flight jacket whistles
While not used for this purpose during WWI, ACME Whistles became an official manufacturer of the original flight jacket whistles that were used by the Air Ministry during WWII. At the time, the ACME Thunderer was favoured by the RAF and USAAF and was used extensively by both pilots and flight crew. This whistle was often called the ‘ditch’ whistle, because it was used by downed pilots who had ditched into the ocean to attract the attention of allied ships in the area. The trilling call of the ACME Thunderer carried well in these difficult conditions, and was a life-saving beacon for many stranded pilots which allowed many to get back to safety.