Highland Regiments footwear during the Great War

[Jacques]

To the seemingly unparalleled knowledge of forum members regarding everything kilt or highland history related on this forum, i pose these questions; At the beginning of WW1, were the British Army Highland Regiments wearing black or brown shoes? Also, i have read online most soldiers throughout the British Army had two pairs of boots, black for parade and brown for field/combat. Is this true? Generally, what colour boots would soldiers of the highland regiments been wearing once they were issued with boots and putties? i ask because all the information i have gathered online thus far have answered the aforementioned questions; yes and no.

Thanks much

Jacques

[figheadair]

I'd always assumed that British Army footwear was black until the most recent changes to the field uniform which introduced brown boots.

[McMurdo]

This old thread may help. I took a tour of the 48th Highlanders Museum here in Toronto some years ago. While the 48th is a Canadian Regiment I thought you might like to see this collection of photos

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-museum-28666/

[Bruce Scott]

From a discussion I recall on the Great War Forum, B2 brown boots were introduced in 1913 and the B5 version, also brown, later in the war. Two pairs were issued and, in some units, the second pair was blackened for parade use and walking out.

For further information it may be worthwhile asking the question on that forum, here: https://www.greatwarforum.org/




B5 Boot frpm: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30100412

[Jacques]

From a discussion I recall on the Great War Forum, B2 brown boots were introduced in 1913 and the B5 version, also brown, later in the war. Two pairs were issued and, in some units, the second pair was blackened for parade use and walking out.

For further information it may be worthwhile asking the question on that forum, here: https://www.greatwarforum.org/




B5 Boot frpm: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30100412

Thanks much. i think the forum you suggest will be of great assistance.

Jacques

[FossilHunter]

I don’t have it in front of me but the book Those Bloody Kilts mentions highland units being sent to France with brogues and spats which ended up being unsuitable to the muddy conditions in the trenches (there were problems with brogues simply being pulled off and lost in the deep mud leaving soldiers bare footed). Eventually highland units were issued the same boots, puttees, and helmets issued to their trousered counterparts both to simplify supply lines and improve effectiveness.