Page 2 - Military

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

It seems that every year there are more reports of minor incidents taking place at airports and other aviation-related premises around the world. In part, this can be put down to changes in the ways that flights are handled since the global pandemic, especially in sectors that have seen a reduction in the available workforce. Issues such as reduced staffing levels have presented unique challenges that need to be addressed by those working in the sector.

There can be no denying that out of all the transport sectors, aviation is one of the most tightly and rigorously controlled in terms of health and safety. A lot is potentially at stake in an airport or airstrip including passengers, staff, and the aircraft and associated infrastructure. Aviation is also expensive, and stakeholders understandably want to make sure their investments are protected by ensuring operations are as safe as possible, something that is potentially hindered when staffing levels are less than desirable.

When it comes

ACME whistles played an essential role in history. Police used whistles to call for backup from other officers before radios were invented. The military used whistles to communicate orders to soldiers in battle. Whistles could be heard over the noise of the battle, and the enemy couldn’t easily interpret the meaning of each call if they were to listen to the orders.

Since radio and other communication technologies are now much more common, service and police whistles are used less often in the field. Service and police whistles do, however, make great gifts for history, military or police enthusiasts, and they also have several practical modern-day applications. These applications include dog training, within scout groups, on the playground and during sporting events. Equally, many people choose to display police or military whistles as part of a memorabilia collection.

Police whistles

Whistles were vital for police officers in the late 1800s and throughout the 1900s until radios took over

Factory Tours:

See the "Lost ACME Clicker", a hugely significant piece of military history, displayed at the ACME Whistles factory.

Arrange A Tour

How We Found The Lost ACME Clicker

Earlier this month we launched a campaign to find the “Lost D-Day Clickers” that ACME Whistles produced to be used by the 101st American Airborne Division in June 1944. Their purpose at the time of production was kept top secret but it later became evident that these clickers, which we produced in complete secrecy, were a vital piece of survival equipment for the heroic paratroopers involved in the famous D-Day Landings during World War II.

We have been delighted with the incredible coverage that the “Search For The Lost Clickers” campaign has had and we’d like to take a moment here to say a very sincere Thank You to everyone who helped to spread the word about the campaign. We even had the opportunity to appear on BBC News.

As a result of the campaign’s coverage, we are overjoyed to be able to reveal that

THANK YOU ACME

By Lt Cdr Glenn von Zeil, SA Naval Reserves

The Bosun’s Call or Bosun’s Pipe (also sometimes spelled 'Boatswain') was used in days of sail to communicate commands onboard ships, especially to those men in the rigging who were adjusting the sails. In modern navies it fulfils a functional ceremonial purpose used to announce daily evolutions, including sunset, colours, call the hands at “wakey wakey”, summons the officer of the day, announce meals, rounds and pipe down. It is also the symbol of office of a Master at Arms or Cox’n and is displayed on a silver chain worn around the neck.

As in the SA Navy the Sea Cadets use Bosun’s Calls for the same purposes and young Cadets are taught the art of “piping” early on in their cadet experience. There is nothing like the piercing sound of a Bosuns Call piping “Wakey Wakey, rise and shine, heavo, heavo, lash up and stow” or other humorous variations at 0500 to rouse the hands.

As Bosun’s Calls are not manufactured in South Africa

Writing a poem for ACME Whistles.

by Gabriella Gay (GKA Gay)

With one toot every cop and robber, runner, budding footballer, bulldog, plane and dancer stood still to attention. I learned very quickly in my year training to teach that my cheap plastic whistle, used for years at carnival, was not enough. Its half-heard whimper left the children that actually stopped quite confused, while the other half continued their games until they spotted the statues amongst them. The best teachers and teaching assistants invested in a good whistle and kept it hung around their necks. They were always ready for playtime duty, P.E, lunchtime and the rare occasion where a hand in the air, sharp ‘Are we ready?’ or the pure powerful presence of standing still was not enough.

In a voice care workshop we were told that the best way protect your voice but still be heard clearly from afar was to speak in a high pitched twangy politician style tone. I never tried it with the kids. I could just picture their laughter.

Whistles have played a vital role on the battlefield throughout ACME’s 149-year history.

Many commands, including the famous ‘over the top‘ signal, were issued by whistles made at our factory in the Midlands and they soon became the official government-issue infantry whistle. Shouting was lost against the dreadful and overwhelming hurricane of sound that was guns firing, bombs and shells screaming earthwards and exploding. The noise was felt as well as heard as each side sought to not just damage but demoralise the other.

The whistle with its distinctive, discordant note spoke through the background noise as the voice of authority. To the chaos and terror, it brought order.

Carrying On Against All Odds

So important to the war effort was this small item that the British government seized control of the factory to ensure that whistle production was kept going. When bombs hit the ACME factory (falling from zeppelins whose real target was probably the nearby Kynoch munitions works) instructions