Classified British Life-savers in D-Day Landings

From a woman who always advocates for our military… an insight into those clickers you see and hear in the movies!!

Tribute to Veterans

Acme 470 clicker used during 1944 D-Day landings as a means of communicating with allied troops
Photo – Evening Standard

In approaching the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, perhaps there is still history, unbeknownst to many, on safeguards instilled prior to 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landing upon five beaches of France’s Normandy region, June 6, 1944 – along a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified coast.  This particular defense was secretly crafted and classified by the British.

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Desperate bid to track down life-saving ‘clickers’ British soldiers used in D-Day landings

The Evening Standard (UK)
Olivia Tobin

Manufacturers from ACME Whistles are attempting to trace the “lost clickers” of the Normandy Landings, a life-saving tool of the invasion, to mark the 75th anniversary.  The small metal device was used by troops abroad to try to determine if among friends or foes in pitch black conditions.  Every paratrooper was issued a clicker and…

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About GP

Everett Smith served with the Headquarters Company, 187th Regiment, 11th A/B Division during WWII. This site is in tribute to my father, "Smitty." GP is a member of the 11th Airborne Association. Member # 4511 and extremely proud of that fact!

Posted on May 11, 2019, in Current News, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. 53 Comments.

  1. Fascinating – never heard of them! Tahnk you for educating me, GP.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Let’s hope they find as many as they can. I suspect a lot were lost during the course of the war.

    Liked by 3 people

  3. I’m always struck by how it is the most simple things that are so important, what a wonderful post.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Small enough but immensely valuable tool! I wonder how many men saved their lives on D-Day because of the clickers!

    Liked by 2 people

  5. A classic example of something that was mass produced and only a few were saved (maybe people didn’t know what they were) and now they are very rare!

    Liked by 3 people

  6. A choice re-post gp
    Great historical story and background on such an insignificant but valuable tool.
    Wonder if any Australians would have been in possession of a Clicker.

    Liked by 3 people

  7. Thanks, GP. I hadn’t known about these

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Wow. How terrifying it must have been.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Now I am thinking about Halloween and the cricket toys we used to have, G. This is news to me. Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I wonder if they shot the guy who’d didn’t respond? Wouldn’t be wise to lose your cricket! –Curt

    Liked by 3 people

  10. Interesting, GP. Thanks

    Liked by 3 people

  11. The British excelled in these kinds of things in WWII. For another example, they printed maps on silk and gave them to the troops. The silk wouldn’t make noise when it was unfolded and it wasn’t as noticeable as a paper map would be if the soldier were captured.

    Liked by 3 people

  12. Interesting story about the clickers. Probably most were lost on the beaches during landing. I hope they keep you informed on how many were located.

    Liked by 2 people

    • It would be great to have, I know that! Especially since everything I do collect will pass on to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans when I pass on (or maybe before, so I know it’s safely there.)

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Just spent a week in Normandy and have seen them in museums here.

    Liked by 3 people

  14. I knew that clickers were used, but not that they have not surfaced since D-Day. Fascinating post.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. I remember them being featured in the film, ‘The Longest Day’. That was the only time I recall them being mentioned. I suspect they would all have been left behind in Normandy. 🙂
    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 2 people

  16. Oh wow who knew something like this exists. So wonderful that you do and shared it!

    Liked by 3 people

  17. How odd that these small gadgets are extremely rare. As an obsessive collector of memorabilia, I can understand the company’s frustration in their search for even one example.

    Liked by 3 people

  18. Great story. Never heard of these clickers before. Thanks for sharing!

    Liked by 3 people

  19. Thank you for sharing this article.

    Like

  1. Pingback: Classified British Life-savers in D-Day Landings — Pacific Paratrooper | Ups and Downs of Family History V2.0

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