Jump to content

Thin Barracks Shoes and Great Hobnailed Hulks Part II


world war I nerd
 Share

Recommended Posts

world war I nerd

Photo No. 109: In August 1918, the foxing known as the heel counter was replaced by a new foxing that was called a “counter pocket”. This radically changed the appearance of the late war “Victory Shoe” and the later “Occupation Shoe”. The first second and third pattern counter pockets, used on 1918 and 1919 pattern Field Shoes, from top to bottom are:

  • The upper shoe is a bit of a mystery, but I believe it to be some form of hybrid transition shoe. Its sole is identical to those used on specifications 1257, 1258, and 1271. The blucher ears are riveted, indicating that this shoe was manufactured after March of 1918. The line of stitching parallel to the lacing eyelets is straight, which matches that of the specification 1309 shoe. The unusual first pattern counter pocket appears to combine features found on both the heel counter and the counter pocket. The shape of the “tongue” or vertical portion covering the backstay is similar to the tongue used on all specifications of the Pershing Shoe’s third pattern heel counter. However, it lacks the third row of stitching on the tongue. The lower portion of the counter pocket is similar to, but different than the second pattern counter pocket used on the Victory Shoe. Two rows of stitching were used to secure the first pattern counter pocket onto the upper.
  • Widened at the top, the second pattern counter pocket at center was used on specifications of the Victory Shoe. Two rows of stitching again secured each side to the upper. However, three rows of stitching kept its flat top firmly in place. The single line of stitching parallel to the lacing eyelets was straight and terminated halfway between the eyelets and the blucher ear.
  • The third pattern counter pocket at the bottom is substantially wider when viewed from the back (see photo number 110), and its overall shape is again different. Two rows of stitching at each side, and three rows at the top secured the counter pocket to the shoe. However, four split rivets were incorporated to further reinforce each side. This style of counter pocket was used on the post-war Occupation Shoe that was adopted on May 10, 1919. The line of stitching parallel to the lacing eyelets is once again curved and terminates at the blucher ear.

post-5143-0-08414500-1417691958.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 110: The back of the various heel counters and counter pockets used on 1917, 1918, and 1919 pattern Field Shoes were from left to right:

  • Narrow on the first and second pattern heel counters that were used on the Trench Shoe.
  • Slightly wider with a third row of stitching only around the backstay area on the third pattern heel counter that was used on the Pershing Shoe.
  • A back view of the first pattern counter pocket was not available.
  • The second pattern counter pocket that was used on the Victory Shoe was wider at the back and flat on the top.
  • The third pattern counter pocket that was used on the Occupation Shoe was further widened and reinforced with four split rivets on each side.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 111: A view of the top and side of the 1917 style field shoe bearing the unusual 1918 hybrid counter pocket.

 

Has anybody ever seen field shoes similar to these?

post-5143-0-48638600-1417692128.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

“Transition Shoes”

No Specification Number

At some point, most likely, immediately following the adoption of the Pershing Field Shoe in March of 1918, certain components that were adopted to make the Pershing Shoe stronger began to be incorporated on what would otherwise be 1917 Field Shoes. These anomalies may have been the result of an unknown amendment made to one of the field shoe specifications or they could be the result of an undiscovered shoe specification number.

 

My theory is that 1917 pattern field shoes that bear traits of both Trench and Pershing Shoes were manufactured during the shoe factory’s transition from the 1917 Trench Shoe specification to the 1918 Pershing Shoe specification. Examples of “transition” military clothing which featured elements of both the older and newer specification numbers are commonly encountered by collectors. Therefore, there’s no reason to believe that the same principle would not apply to military shoes.

 

Photo No. 112: This pair of “transition”1917 Field Shoes features a heel without hobnails, as well as a heel counter with diagonal side stitching, both of which were common on specification 1257, 1258 and 1269 Field Shoes. The riveted blucher ears however, were first mentioned in the specifications for the 1309 Pershing Shoe. It’s probable that these were incorporated on 1917 Field Shoes that were still being manufactured after the Pershing Shoe had been adopted. Unfortunately, there’s no documentation suggesting that this was so. Between the shoes, a “Black Yankee” from an unidentified infantry organization is wearing a branch of service collar disc comprised only of crossed rifles. His footwear appears to be a pair of rivet-less 1917 Field Shoes.

 

Center photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

post-5143-0-05187600-1417692194.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 113: Another detail associated with the Pershing Shoe that commonly show up on the 1917 Field Shoe is a hobnailed inner heel and the use of the thicker, second pattern steel heel plate (upper left). A similar pair is also shown at bottom left. The color of this pair of field shoes is noticeably darker because they have been treated or “dubbined” at the factory with a waterproofing solution. The Doughboy in repose at right is wearing a pair of 1917 Field Shoes.

 

Right hand photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

post-5143-0-92243600-1417692252.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Up until now, I’d always considered this field shoe to have had a specification number of its own. But in light of recently obtained information, I believe it to be just an extreme example of the “transition shoe”. I have however, seen field shoes of this type labeled as the “Second Pattern 1917 Field Shoe.

 

Photo No. 114: This Transition Field Shoe appears to have been an improved version of the Specification No. 1257/1258/1271 1917 Field Shoe. Regardless of whether it is the byproduct of overlapping specification changes or a shoe unto itself, the visible external differences are as follows:

  • A second or third pattern heel counter.
  • Blucher ears reinforced with a 3/16th diameter steel rivet.
  • Steel heel plates that have been increased in thickness from 1/8th of an inch to 3/16th of an inch.
  • One row of hobnails around the inner heel, inside of the steel heel plate.
  • Each shoe weighed approximately 1 pound, 14 ounces.

Photo courtesy of the Carl Panack collection

post-5143-0-36064500-1417692305.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 115: Profile and bottom of a pair of Second Pattern 1917 Field Shoes. This pair appears to have been made with the third pattern heel counter whose upper edge was parallel with the sole.

 

Photo courtesy of the Kration collection

post-5143-0-19526600-1417692352.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 116: The differences between the first and second pattern field shoes become obvious when compared side by side. Note the difference in both the shape and the pattern of the side stitching between the first and third pattern heel counters, the different shape and end points of the lines of stitching bordering the lacing eyelets, the difference in thickness between the two steel heel plates, and the hobnailed and hobnail-less heels.

 

Photos courtesy of the Kration collection

post-5143-0-96592400-1417692396.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 117: Closer views of the details present on the Second Pattern 1917 Field Shoe. Clockwise from left: Bottom of the shoe showing the hobnailed heel, as well as a size 12, and inspectors acceptance stamp; rivet, and the vertical side stitching on the third pattern field counter; hobnailed inner heel, heavier steel heel plate and an inspector’s acceptance stamp on a specification 1309 heel.

It was not unusual for U.S. Army shoes to be stamped with the name of three or more different inspector’s acceptance stamps. One inspector might have inspected the outer sole’s quality before they were ever attached to the upper. A different inspector might have done the same to the heels. Then upon completion, a final inspection was made of the entire shoe. The inspector responsible for this would confirm that the shoe had passed by rubber stamping yet another name or set of initials on the inside of the upper in black, blue or red indelible ink.

post-5143-0-02738500-1417692447.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

There can be no doubt that all specifications of the 1917 Trench Shoe were a huge improvement over the “Marching Shoes” that had previously been worn by many early arrivals to the AEF in 1917. Despite the fact that the Trench Shoe was both stronger and more weatherproof, it was not without a few faults of its own. The following letter published in the Stars and Stripes newspaper criticizing the Army’s field shoe mentioned a number of grievances the soldiers had with the Trench Shoe:

 

THOSE FIELD SHOES

To the editor of STARS and STRIPES – Sir:

Why doesn’t our joint Uncle by the name of Samuel give his boys over here a better field shoe? If he could perfect one, he would save the lads a great many frozen toes and chilblains,* and especially some of the miseries of cold feet – literal cold feet, and I mean they don’t know “cold feet” in the figurative sense!

 

Everybody who has to wear these field shoes from Chaplains down in the scale of piety, cuss them out. There is a lot to cuss them for. The only man I ever heard defend them was a lieutenant and he wasn’t wearing them. He had on a pair of highly polished knee boots that must have set him back a good $40.

 

Our army’s shoes were made wrong wherever there was a chance to make a mistake. The worst error of all was in putting the smooth side of the leather inside the shoes, and exposing the spongy porous surface to the weather. This surface just drinks in moisture. A man wakes up in the morning to find his shoes frozen stiff. He is instructed to oil them so they’ll shed moisture. He oils them: Result – the water and the oil in the pores make the leather so soggy that it takes days to dry.

 

The soles are too thin for a hob-nailed boot for cold weather wear. If the sole was twice as thick there would be a fairly thick layer of leather between the soles of a man’s foot and the top of the nails. As the boots are made now, you can feel the nail heads just under the insoles and the nails are quick and direct conductors of the cold.

 

The leather laces are also N.G. Oil makes them rotten and they are always breaking.**

 

I understand that some new field shoes*** have been bought, and that they have a polished outside that will shed water when they are oiled. So far, however, none of them have put in an appearance round this section of the country.***

 

Yours for dry feet, ONE WHO HAS SUFFERED.

 

Stars and Stripes Newspaper, February 15, 1918, Vol. 1, No. 39, page 7

*Chilblain is the name of a small, itchy and painful swelling that forms on the skin. It is the result of an abnormal reaction by the blood vessels beneath the skin to cold temperatures or to the sudden warming of the skin after being exposed to cold temperatures.

 

**I’m guessing that N.G. is an acronym for “no good”. As far as I know, leather shoe laces were not issued by the QTMC. However, the AEF Salvage Service did make leather shoe laces from lengths of scrap leather. The leather laces were frequently used on the shoes that were refurbished by the Salvage Service’s shoe repair shops in France.

 

***The phrase “New field shoes that have a polished outside” must have been a reference to the shoes that were purchased from the British Army for use by the AEF. Between 1914 and 1918 regulation British field shoes were manufactured using both rough side out and smooth side out leather, and in some cases both.

 

In January 1918, the Chief Quartermaster, AEF called for a report to be made on all AEF clothing and shoes to determine if they should be modified before letting new contracts. Shortly thereafter, a board of AEF officers found that the following faults of the 1917 Trench Shoe needed to be corrected:

  • The uppers were not waterproof
  • The backstays ripped prematurely
  • The sole’s separated and leaked
  • The double soles were too thin which allowed the cold to be transferred from the ground to the soldier’s feet

Photo No. 118: Even though a new field shoe was adopted by the Army two months after the Trench Shoe’s shortcomings were revealed in March of 1918, the 1917 Trench Shoe continued to be issued to Doughboys, like the men in this photo, all of whom are wearing 1917 Field Shoes.

 

Photo Courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

post-5143-0-77119800-1417692544.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 119: By the time of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, numerous AEF troops, like these men from the 79th Infantry Division were wearing second hand shoes that had been refurbished by the AEF Salvage Service. The vast majority of Doughboys preferred wearing Salvage Shoes over a brand new pair issued from Quartermaster stores because the leather was soft and they had already been broken in.

post-5143-0-40620100-1417692598.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

“Salvage Shoes”

In service from 1918 until 1919

No Specification Number

Official Name: Salvage Shoe

Before America entered into WW I, the question of repairing a soldier’s worn out shoes or mending his damaged clothing wasn’t considered to be of sufficient importance to merit the attention of the War Department. This was largely due to the relatively small size of the American Army, and the fact that the Government sold each soldier his military footwear and service dress. Prevailing regulations required that the soldier keep the garments that were sold by the Government clean and in good repair. If he didn’t, he would be faced with a reprimand or worse, a court martial. Therefore, each soldier had to have his clothing laundered and shoes repaired at his own expense.

 

After America declared war, a new system was introduced in which the soldier’s uniform and footwear remained the property of the U.S. Government. However, one dollar was still deducted from each enlisted man’s monthly pay to cover the cost of laundering. Now that the Government retained ownership, the Army assumed the responsibility of maintaining the men’s shoes and keeping their uniforms in good repair. In large part, this formidable task fell to the Salvage Division of the QTMC.

 

The importance of military salvage was imported to America in 1917, by a specialist in that field. The expert was an English Army officer, and member of the British Military Mission, whose purpose was to ensure that the American Army got started on the right foot in regard to how it geared up for the war. American salvage efforts first began in October 1917, when the Conservation Branch of the Supplies Division of the Quartermaster General’s Office established the Salvage Division. At the time of its inception the staff was comprised of just two officers and one clerk.

 

Salvage in the AEF did not begin in earnest until January of 1918, when the AEF Salvage Service was established by the Chief Quartermaster, AEF. It was the only organization in the Army which turned waste into profit. It was described as a rag-picker, a garbage collector, a junk dealer, and an old clothes man combined. No item was too large or too small to escape its notice. One post war volume had this to say about the Salvage Service’s ability to salvage:

 

If a soldier tossed a pair of worn-out socks into the garbage barrel, the Salvage Service fished them out and used them for something or other. In France it saved and sorted the millions of sand-bags which lined the parapets of the trenches; it untangled and rerolled for future use the millions of feet of twisted and rusted barbed wire which formed the entanglements in front of the trenches; it gathered and sorted and sent back for reloading the empty shells from the field-guns; it fumigated and cleaned and pressed the soldier’s uniforms; it washed their shirts and socks and underwear; and it mended their shoes.

 

The Army Behind the Army, Edward Alexander Powell, 1919, page 191

Photo No. 120: According to QTMC statistics, the average shelf life of a pair of 1917 Trench Shoes at the front was only 40 days. The average lifespan of the 1918 Pershing Shoe was slightly longer at 51 days. Depending on which shoe, that worked out to either 8 or 9 pairs of hobnailed shoes per year, per combat soldier. The attrition rate of AEF footwear makes it easy to understand why the Salvage Service, Shoe Division became such a vital component in keeping the Doughboys properly shod. It was well worn hobnails like those shown below that ultimately ended up on the salvage heap, and from there on the workbench of an AEF shoe repair shop.

 

Doughboy photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

post-5143-0-27067100-1417692665.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

When a Doughboy’s shoes had seen one too many miles they would be tossed onto the nearest salvage pile. Salvage piles were integral to each AEF trench, camp, post, depot, base, and hospital. Also a special salvage squad soon became an essential part of each AEF organization. When trucks or wagons delivered supplies of any type to the front, before returning, divisional salvage squads filled them up again with a conglomeration of trash composed of everything from a broken rifle cleaning rod to a captured enemy artillery piece. Under the watchful eye of the Division’s Salvage Officer, the salvage squads sorted the contents of the trucks at the railhead dumps for shipment to the various leather, clothing, metal, wood and ordnance repair shops that were located at the base and intermediate supply depots. Any equipment, clothing or ammunition that was still serviceable was sent to the nearest Army, Corps or Division supply dump for immediate reissue.

 

In the case of discarded shoes, most wound up at the large salvage depot at St. Pierre-des-Corps, near Tours. Staffed by QTMC personnel and French civilians, this depot repaired up to 3,000 pairs of AEF shoes every day. Upon arrival the shoes were sorted into four classes, of which 65 out of every 100 pairs were repaired at an average cost, of $1.05:

  • Class 1: Un-repairable
  • Class 2: New inner soles
  • Class 3: Regular repairs, i.e. new half soles, heels, or soles, patching of uppers or other minor repairs
  • Class 4: Suitable only for civilian use*

After sorting the shoes destined for repairs were washed and disinfected with a solution of water, soap and formaldehyde. After which, the wet shoes were sorted by size and width. Wooden lasts of the appropriate size were then inserted restore the shoes shape as they dried.

 

Once dry, the shoes were transferred to the stripping bench where any component that could not be repaired was removed. Uneven areas on the exposed bottom of the inner sole were smoothed and half or new soles were cemented in place. At the stitching machines, the replacement soles were machine sewed to the upper. Then a leveling machine smoothed out any irregularities on the inner sole. New heels were added, and then both the sole and heel were securely fixed in place with iron nails. If necessary, patching of the uppers was done by means of a sewing machine, and new hobnails were inserted into the shoe’s new outer or half sole. After repair, each field shoe was given an application of waterproof dubbin, while russet shoes received a coat of shoe polish. As a finishing touch, a split leather insole was inserted into each shoe to insure that its bottom was perfectly smooth. Then new shoe laces tied each pair of salvaged shoes together and they were turned in to Army stores.

 

*A large number of the shoes the AEF, Salvage Service repaired, while still serviceable, were deemed unsuitable for wear by the Doughboys. This class of shoes was not reissued. They were instead sold to the civilians of Europe for $4.30 per pair.

 

Photo No. 121: Left, the ubiquitous salvage pile was an excellent source from which an urgently needed garment or a lost piece of field gear could be scrounged by a needy Doughboy:

 

I was attracted by a monstrous salvage dump on entering Cheppy. Went all around the mound of packs, tattered uniforms, rifles, helmets, shoes, all the debris of battle except bodies, hoping to find an overcoat. It was still damp and I had never really warmed up after the rain last night. The chill was getting to me.

 

Sergeant William S, Triplet, Company D, 140th Infantry Regiment, 35th Division, AEF

The right hand photographs show a typical British Army shoe repair shop in action.

 

post-5143-0-82594900-1417692752.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 122: The AEF also adopted the British Army’s system of a regimental shoe repair shop and having a shoe cobbler in each company. Each AEF cobbler was issued a portable cobbler’s tool kit like this example that was seen on Bay State Militaria’s website.

 

The lower photo shows the 23rd Engineer Regiment’s shoe repair shop in the port city of St. Nazaire. If no shoe cobbler was available, the regimental saddler was often pressed into service as a shoe cobbler.

post-5143-0-55986900-1417692807.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 123: A closer view of the contents of an AEF Cobbler’s Tool Roll. This particular example was found some time ago on Advance Guard Militaria’s website.

post-5143-0-84269700-1417692851.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 124: For the purpose of identification, I have categorized any AEF shoe that had been reworked, refurbished or repaired as a “Salvage Shoe”. The title of Salvage Shoe was selected because repaired shoes were often rebuilt using components which were different from the shoe’s original specifications.

 

Although this well worn pair of refurbished American made hobnailed shoes are technically Specification No. 1257, Field Shoes, they have been categorized in this post as 1918 Salvage Shoes because they appear to have been refurbished by the AEF Salvage Service.

 

Photo courtesy of Beast’s collection

post-5143-0-69478900-1417692897.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 125: In this profile of the 1918 Salvage Shoe, the shoe looks like an ordinary regulation field shoe. However, close inspection reveals that it features a half sole and a heel without a steel heel plate.

 

Photo courtesy of Beast’s collection

post-5143-0-24777000-1417692941.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No 126: Left, the bottom view of the above Salvage Shoe shows what were arguably, the most common repairs made to AEF footwear – the application of a new heel with hobnails instead of a steel heel plate, and the addition of a half sole with replacement hobnails.

 

A chronic problem on all specifications of the hobnailed field shoe, except those of the Victory and Occupation shoe was that of the backstay splitting. The backstay was the vertical seam which runs up and down the back of the shoe. At center, top, is an example of an intact backstay on a 1917 Field Shoe. The lower photo shows a split backstay that had been repaired with rivets. The center photo is of an inspector’s acceptance stamp on one of the split leather insoles that finished each pair of Salvage Shoes. The right hand photo shows a different 1917 Field Shoe whose worn outer sole has been covered by a half sole that was never hobnailed.

 

Left hand and center photos courtesy of Beast’s collection

post-5143-0-08896200-1417692993.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 127: From left to right, examples of a solid 1917 Trench Shoe backstay; a split backstay on a 1918 Pershing Shoe, and a repaired backstay on a transition 1917- 1918 Trench Shoe. Note that three rows of stitching were used to secure both the center and right hand back strap/heel counters which covered and reinforced the backstay. After examining hundreds of pairs of shoes that were beyond repair at the Salvage Service’s shoe reclamation center at St. Pierre des Corps, 60% were ripped apart on the inside where the quarters butted together, and the remaining 40% showed a backstay that was either ripped or separating from the quarters.

 

Left hand photo courtesy of Beast’s collection

post-5143-0-86368300-1417693036.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 128: Full view of the 1917 Field Shoe which had the rivet repaired backstay. The shoe appears to have been issued without any hobnails on the outer sole.

post-5143-0-02671100-1417693079.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 129: The majority of AEF salvage shoes whose worn heels were stripped seem to have been replaced with heels that were hobnailed in the French style. The heels on all French field shoes were reinforced around the outer edge with square shaped hobnails. Steel horseshoe shaped heel plates were used to protect the heels on both British and American made field shoes. A French heel from a French Modele 1917 Brodequin (center) is compared to two heels, both of which were on found the bottom of 1918 Salvage Shoes, whose outer edges have been reinforced with French style hobnails.

post-5143-0-42166000-1417693122.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 130: The left and right hand photos clearly depict the French heel’s distinctive hobnail pattern on the field shoes worn by the two Doughboys. At center is another example of a 1917 Trench Shoe whose heel bears French style hobnails.

 

Left hand photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

post-5143-0-16259100-1417693168.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 131: During the course of the war three different styles of American made heels were used on 1917, 1918, and 1919 regulation hobnailed field shoes. From left to right, each heel was used on the following specifications:

  • Specifications No. 1257, 1258, 1271
  • Specifications No. 1309, 1310, 1323, 1324*
  • Specifications No. 1351, 412-2-1351

*After being adopted in March of 1918, this pattern of heel began to be incorporated on Specification No. 1257, 1258, and 1271 Field Shoes.

post-5143-0-35702700-1417693215.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

world war I nerd

Photo No. 132: Although I’ve never seen a British style heel used on any AEF Salvage Shoes, it wouldn’t surprise me to find out that they were used by the AEF, Salvage Service. Just in case, here are three different examples of hobnailed British heels. Note that rectangular, not round shaped nails were used to fix the British steel heel plates in place. During the course of the war the British Army used a wide variety of hobnail styles, including a pentagon shaped hobnail. However, the textured, large diameter hobnails on the far left seem to have been the most common.

post-5143-0-81388600-1417693263.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...