Ammunition boot

Ammunition boots, also known as Boots, General Service (BGS), were the standard footwear for the British Army from the late 1880s until the late 1950s. They replaced the earlier lace-up "Blucher" boots that had been in service since the early 1800s.

The term "Ammunition boots" comes from the boots' unusual source. They were procured by the Master Gunner and the Munitions Board at Woolwich (the Regiment of Artillery's headquarters) rather than Horse Guards (the headquarters of the British Army). They were usually produced at a factory on site, but civilian manufacturers were given contracts to produce them during times of increased demand.

Ammunition boots were unlined ankle-boots with leather laces, "pebble-grained" (dimpled) leather vamp (front) and quarters (sides), smooth leather toe case (toe cap) and counter (heel cap), iron heel-plate and toe-plate, and an iron-studded leather sole. They were designed to be hard-wearing and long-lasting rather than comfortable. The hobnail-studded soles made a loud crunching sound when the wearer was marching, earning them the nickname "crunchies".

Soldiers were issued two pairs of boots, both made with a brown finish that had to be polished black. There was a brief period (1908 to 1914) where they were issued one pair that was hand-polished in black for parade and drill and one pair finished in raw brown hide for fatigue duty and field service. World War I forced the reversion to brown leather boots for Other Ranks but polished black boots were still worn by some individuals or units out of habit. Officers, who purchased their own uniforms, were still required to wear polished brown boots and matching leather Sam Browne belt with their field service uniform, marking them apart from their men. Officers' boots had heel plates, but lacked the sole studs and toe plates because they could afford to have the soles replaced.

Patterns

The original Pattern 1037 was made from 1887 to 1907. During the Second Boer War (1899-1902), civilian manufacturers made a series of variants on the Pattern 1037 due to differing manufacturing techniques (like machine-sewn uppers or glued-on outer soles). These were declared obsolete in 1903 as they were not of uniform appearance and did not wear well. An improved 1037i pattern was adopted from 1907 to 1911. It was temporarily replaced by the similar 7325 and 7326 patterns from 1911 to 1914 while they did research for a replacement boot. The experimental "A" and "HN" series were made during this time but were obsolete by the dawn of World War I.

By 1915 the "B" series was begun, consisting chiefly of the "B2" and "B5". It was a pattern of ammunition boot with woven cotton laces, a plain-leather counter, and lacked the leather toe cap. It was created to save leather and increase production. To reinforce the boot and increase wear the B2 series had a horizontal seam between the parts of the upper and the "B5" series had rivets between the vamp and quarters.

In 1918 the post-war 9902 pattern came into service. It had a "clump sole" (one-piece sole and heel), smooth leather vamp and quarters, and pebbled-leather counter and toe-cap.

In 1924 the Pattern 4055 boot, foreruner of the Boot, General Service (BGS) was issued. It came in a brown finish. In 1927 the later Pattern 10085 boot, the BGS, was similar except it came in black leather.

Variant Patterns

During World War II, a pattern without the toecap was used by the Canadian Army and was also issued to the Royal Air Force and the Royal Marines.

Specialists and ammo storesmen were issued regular ammo boots with rubber heels and rubber crepe soles that lacked the steel heel- and toe-plates. This was to avoid creating sparks near flammable or explosive stores (like gunpowder or gasoline). Commandos were issued them to make it easier for them to to sneak around. Surplus ammo boots with rubber soles, nicknamed "brothel creepers", were popular in the 1950s and 1960s.

During the Korean War, it was found that the current issue cold weather clothing and ammunition boots may have been suitable for the dry European winters, but were unsuited for the cold, wet winters common in the mountains of Korea. The Pattern 1950 uniform was created to address these problems. Part of it was a new form of the Ammunition Boot called Boots, Cold Weather, Wet or "CWWs". They were designed to have watertight cleated rubber soles (like the later DMS boots) and were slightly bigger and wider so they could be worn with heavy wool socks. The CWWs were issued from 1950 until they were replaced in 1995.

Polishing

The boots were the focus of much drill and attention. Achieving a high polish was often the aim and required hours of "bulling" (vigorous polishing) until it achieved a deep sheen. Experienced soldiers would "burn-down" the dimpled surface of the boots with beeswax and a heated spoon to make them smooth and easier to shine.

DMS Boots

Ammo boots were replaced by directly moulded sole boots (DMS boots) in 1958. These were lace-up leather ankle-boots with a leather toe-cap (but no heel cap).

Although the ammo boots were no longer standard-issue, there were still remaining stocks. Regulars were issued one pair of ammunition boots for drill and parade and one pair of DMS boots for field service well into the late 1960s.

The Guards Division continued to wear ammunition boots for ceremonial and drill duties. Around the late 1980s, the Guards' ammunition boots were replaced by boots known as "Drill Boots"—similar boots made specifically for drill with some minor variations^{[citation needed]}.

In 1983, the DMS was replaced with the "boot, combat, high" (BCH). They were high-lacing versions of the DMS (omitting the leather toe-cap) that went up to mid-calf. These boots were replaced as the DMS was the cause of so many soldiers becoming unfit during the Falklands campaign. These boots had no arch support and were not waterproof nor lined. Subsequently, they caused many cases of trenchfoot. Also, when the soldiers were loaded with packs of over 100lbs (45 kg) (up to 150lbs (70 kg)in some cases), the lack of arch support crippled the feet of many troops. ^[1]

References

1. ^ Battle for the Falklands: Land forces By William Fowler, Mike Chappell

• Army Rumour Service
• Army Boots - British