A Beginner's Guide to British Far East Kit and Clothing, 1944-1945 - Part IV

Fourth part in a series taking a look at the kit issued to British troops in the Far East during the latter part of the Second World War.
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[@gorbalsboy]

Sorry should have said great series of vids ,your being very good to us, thanks

[@zulfadlitahar2442]

Can you do Early war Far East kit?

[@pomjon]

How does one wear the Puttees with the trouser leg?

[@jjrider6758]

I've noticed that when I wear webbing Anklets with Ammo boots they can scuff the finish off the boots, have you any tips on how to prevent this happening ?.. (apart from wearing puttees instead of course !..)

[@jjrider6758]

There was an Indian pattern Ammo boot too, the only real visual difference (apart from the maker mark and Indian ordnance acceptance stamp) being the toe-cap, the back edge of which is slightly curved rather than straight as on British made examples.. I can't be certain because I don't know whether the original Indian Army specs survive (or if they do, whether they are accessible..) but this may be a feature particular to just one manufacturer ?.. I always knew that they exist/existed because as a teenager I worked with a Far East veteran (1st Lincolns) and when I turned up for work wearing a pair of (then) modern DMS boots he pointed out that they were almost the same as he wore in Burma, but his had what he called 'half-moon' toecaps.. I was quite excited when many years later he was proved right by Brayley and Ingram's 'Khaki Drill & Jungle Green' which has photos of a pair.. I seems that survivors of the Indian pattern Ammo boots are quite rare however, I've checked literally hundreds of pairs of WW2 dated Ammo boots in the 30+ years that I've been actively looking for a pair and the nearest I've come to finding any are a near mint pair of Indian Army ordnance issue Officer's brown Ammo boots (which luckily I bought..) - Most Other-Ranks and NCOs that wore them to return home in From the Far East would probably have worn them out afterwards but I live in hope that somewhere, hiding in some undiscovered officer's kitbag, there's a pair of Indian pattern Ammo boots with my name on them !

[@allenprior8573]

Just to throw a spanner in the works on the subject of boots; not all Indian boots had crescent toecaps. The ones on p90 of the KD&JG actually have straight toecaps (I know because they are my boots on my feet!) although the caption says otherwise; they are dated 1945. There are black and brown Indian made boots with crescent toecaps, also brown boots with straight toecaps!

[@RiflemanMoore]

Thanks for this Allen, for those interested please see this very interesting post on the MECo FB page; facebook.com/photo?fbid=620407026546984&set=pb.100057330764863.-2207520000.

[@jjrider6758]

@@allenprior8573 Hello Allen, I just used the link you provided and many thanks for it ! -The brown Indian-Made boots I mentioned in my previous comment are very close to being identical to the second pair from the left, mine are also brown and dated 1942 too.. I can't see it in the image, but my pair are made from a finer leather than normally seen on ordnance issue Ammo boots and are fully leather lined, this (and the colour) being why I thought they may be for officer issue - (British made boots of this level of spec would certainly have been intended for officers..) - although I must admit they look rather more 'other-ranks' in style than the commonly seen British-made WW2 officer's patterns, but then I suppose many of those were actually 'private-purchase'.. I'm assuming the boots my workmate Sam told me about would most likely be of the pattern of the boots first on the left, anyway It's great to actually see some more examples of WW2 Indian Ammo boots at last and it looks like there were several very varied specs !..

[@gorbalsboy]

Can I ask when short puttees were adopted?

[@georgesmith5708]

Just a questione from a beginner: are anklets sized?

[@allenprior8573]

Yes, there are sizes 1 to 4.

[@bettyboo1760]

originals are sized but, from experience, the sizes mean nothing most of the time. Ive found a size 4 which is the same length asa size 2 so try them on before buying. :)

[@georgesmith5708]

@@bettyboo1760 thanks!

[@andrewcombe8907]

Having trekked the Kokoda Trail in PNG and experienced Far Eastern conditions first hand I can honestly say I could not imagine anything worse than wet woolen short puttees dragging on my ankles and legs.

[@nathansaunders2576]

They are great ankle support, breathable, stops leaches getting into the boots, stops grit and stones getting into the boots which would rub wet skin raw quickly.