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Uniform Accoutrements - Issued Boots - World War 2f from 1942

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Overview

This pattern of boot came into service with the Australian Army in 1942 and were used by the Australians in all the theatres of war in which they served including the Far East and Middle East. The main difference from the previous pattern was a "toe cap" which was incorporated into the manufacturing process. Brown boots of this pattern continued to be the norm in Australia and with the Australian contingent with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) in Japan until deployments began to Korea.

Historical information

This pattern of boot had a line of double stitching evident on the ‘upper toe' of the boot Variations between manufacturers could result in some items displaying metal heel or toe plates and others having just a plain, leather sole. There were some variations in the colour - from light tan (London Tan) to brown. Some manufacturers altered the design of the heel plate, so that the plate was complete around its perimeter or circumference - and not open at one end, like a ‘horse shoe'. A major variation however was the addition of brass "Jungle Cleats" which were added to improve grip in muddy conditions a lesson learnt from experience gained on the Kokoda Trail.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-54-893

Contextual Information

All boots displayed with World War 2 uniforms on mannequins at the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia are replicas. Boots were useful for civilian wear and work after repatriation and often used until no longer serviceable. This original pair of boots is on display in the Traditions gallery

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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