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"The Acme Thunderer" whistle on this page was found this Summer (2005) in the Ardennes. Although this is an English made whistle it was once carried by an American under the command of Col. Charles Cavender of the 423rd Infantry Regiment of the 106th Infantry Division - "The Golden Lions".
As the Ardennes offensive commenced this "green" unit found itself swamped by the tide of the advancing 18th Volkgrenadier Division. As a result of the break down in communications between Regiment and Division the men of the 423rd and it's sister Regiment found themselves having to surrender to the German troops during 18-19th December.
This whistle had perhaps summoned men from their foxholes as they stumbled into the arms of their captors and began the long walk to Germany.
The Germans captured around 9,000 men in this action and large volumes of equipment. The biggest surrender of American troops since the losses in the Pacific in 1942.
As the sound was once more heard in the place where it was left 61 years ago it made everyone think back to those grim days. What stories it could have told of bravery and sacrifice in that defining moment of history.
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