However, examples from this period are generally rather crude probably due to being manufactured from melted coins by the ships coppersmith or tinsmith. Silver bosun whistles can be found dating back to the mid 18th century. To this day, the bosun whistle is used by the Navy in traditional bugle calls for announcing events and ceremonies and they are also used as standard by military navies from around the world. With its distinctive high pitched sound, the message could be heard throughout the ship over noise of crew activities or during a time when experiencing poor weather conditions. Originally, the bosun whistle was utilised to pass commands on to the crew onboard the ship. They would either be integrated as a warrant officer onboard a warship or a petty officer onboard a merchant vessel. The boatswain was the individual onboard a ship in charge of anchors, cables and rigging amongst other duties. This is known as the “Word to be Passed”.The word ‘bosun’ (Bo’sun / Boson) is derived from ’boatswain’. A third type of whistle command is a call for silence on the ship’s deck and a subsequent order given immediately after. When dinghies or other small boats need to push off and away from the main ship, the Away Boats call resounds. When a naval officer is boarding or walking off the ship, the Away Galley call, also known as the “Side”, is given as a sign of respect. The most basic of these calls is the Haul, as crewman on warships were not allowed to sing or speak loudly, and the bosun whistle was used to order their efforts. There are a large variety of calls that can be made by the bosun whistle, and they all have their special meanings and orders. The modern dog whistle was derived from the bosun whistle’s design, as dogs are particularly weak to the high pitch noises. The things that make the bosun whistle so unique are also what make them amazing nautical wall decor.
During the funerals and sea burials of missing persons or sailors, bosun whistles are used almost exclusively as heralds.īosun whistles are unique instruments that produce high pitched tones that are resistant to being blocked out by other noises. Any number of sounds or ceremonial vocal commands are used alongside the bosun whistle’s call, and this may include a gun salute depending on the ceremony itself. As of today, every normal bugle call is accompanied by the call of a bosun whistle. Among the Sea Scouts and Sea Cadets, the bosun whistle acts as a defining personal item of the Chief Boatswain’s mate and Boatswain’s mate.Ī bosun whistle has a large role in most naval ceremonies. The bosun whistle is an item exclusive to the Quartermaster, Captain, and First Mate, and as such it acts as a badge of the higher officers. Only a few people on any one ship are given a bosun whistle to keep. Small loops on the side of the bosun whistle also allow it to be strung independently on another chain or around a ring of keys. The neck or somewhere secure inside the uniform is where the bosun whistle is kept when not being utilized. Bosun whistles commonly have a large chain to enable the wearer to drape it around his or her neck or wrap it around the wrist for ease and safety. Many ships made their bosun whistles from thread, small bits of metal to shape the bell, and cheap twine or reeds. The bosun whistle has its origins on the Greek ships of the Classical era, when trade was rampant throughout the Mediterranean Sea. To combat this handicap, the bosun whistle was born. Hearing others’ voices is impossible over the sound of the torrents of rain and thundering waves upon the ship’s deck. A battered ship pushes on through the angry storm and raging ocean, turning and twisting through the troughs of waves.
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