General service whistle : Sergeant J Lihou, 13 Battalion, AIF

Standard issues police pattern nickle-plated tube bodied general service whistle with pair of opposing windows, lead fipple and integral suspension loop. A fragment of a leather holder is rivetted to the loop. The barrel of the body is impressed 'J. Hudson & Co / Birmingham / 1916'. The dome is impressed 'Patent 5727.08'.

This whistle was used by Sergeant James Victor 'Jimmy' Lihou. He was born in Dubbo, NSW on 6 February 1895. The eldest of seven children to Stephen and Eliza Lihou, he was educated at Wongarbon Public School. Prior to the First World War he earned a living as a farm hand on properties in the area. Lihou enlisted on 15 January 1916 at Dubbo. He was posted to the 18th Reinforcements for 13 Battalion, part of 4 Brigade (4Bde). He embarked on the HMAT (A46) Clan McGillivray on 3 May 1916, bound for Egypt. In October, following training, he joined 13 Battalion at Reninghelst, Belgium.

Lihou was wounded during the attack on Stormy Trench near Gueudecourt, on 5 February 1917, and again during the First Battle of Bullecourt on 11 April. On 1 October, he was promoted to lance corporal and to corporal on 26 March 1918. For his role in the fighting at Hebuterne in March and April 1918, he was awarded the Military Medal. He distinguished himself again in July while he was in charge of a Lewis gun section during the Battle of Hamel, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). On 27 August, while on leave in England, he was promoted to sergeant.

Sergeant James Lihou was killed rushing a machine gun post near the village of Le Verguier during the Battle of 18 September. For his actions during the fighting, he was posthumously awarded a Bar to his DCM. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial.

As a sergeant and a platoon's second-in-command, Lihou would have used his whistle in action as a aid to commanding his platoon; usually only a small number of whistle blasts were used to indicate pre-designated commands - one, two or three blasts to indicate simple movements such as advance, stop or withdraw.