Thin Barracks Shoes and Great Hobnailed Hulks Part II

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 133: American manufactured field shoes used just two types of hobnails on both the sole and on the heel. A round, oval headed hobnail that was 5/16^th of an inch in diameter (left) was used on all field shoe specifications up to and including the Pershing Shoe. Specification No. 1351, and Specification No. 412-2-1351 are the only two field shoes that I have encountered on which square hobnails with a star pattern were used (right). The August 1918 specifications for the Pershing Shoe, Model ‘A’ called for the use of square, star headed hobnails. However, that style of hobnail appears to have not been used until 1919.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No 134: The fore-sole of British and French made field shoes were both studded with a different style of hobnail than that which was used on the heel. The most common British hobnail (left) was in the shape of a cone with a flat top. French made round hobnails were similar to those used on American made shoes, but they appear to have been slightly larger in diameter. Note that both of these shoes show two different styles of hobnail – with and without a small rim around the base. When compared to the rounded shape of the American made field shoe, it’s easy to see why British and French made field shoes were referred to as “square toed” by the Doughboys who wore them.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 135: based on period photographs, the 1918 Pershing Shoe does not appear to have been worn nearly as frequently as the 1917 Trench Shoe. Presumably, by September 1918, well equipped Doughboys destined for France were wearing the shoe bearing the Commander in Chief’s name. Note how this corporal has neatly rolled his blanket so that the initials “U.S.” is displayed front and center at the top of his pack.

 

Photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

[world war I nerd]

“Pershing Shoes”

In service from 1918 until 1919

Specification No’s 1309, 1310, 1323 & 1324

Official Name: Metallic Fastened Field Shoe

In January of 1918, a board of officers convened at GHQ, AEF to review the following suggestions put forth by the Chief Quartermaster, AEF regarding recommended improvements to be made to the 1917 Field Shoe:

• That the upper leather should no longer be made from chrome vegetable retanned cowhide.
• That “bend” leather rather than “side” leather should be used in the shoes manufacture.*
• That the Goodyear welt process of sewing the shoe’s upper to the sole should be abolished, as it allowed water to leak in through the stitch holes.
• That the thickness of the inner sole should be increased to prevent the top of the nails used to secure the middle and outer soles to the inner sole from protruding through the top of the inner sole and irritating the foot.
• That the top sole should be “clinch” nailed** to the inner sole.
• That the inner, top, middle and outer soles should be “clinch nailed”,** stitched, and screwed together in order to make a “leak-proof” joint.
• That a steel toe plate be used to cover the toe area of the outer sole.
• That the field shoe be worn two sizes larger than the foot, and that the available shoe sizes be revised to include larger sizes than those currently issued.

*For a definition on both bend and side leather go to photo number 146 of this post.

 

**For an explanation on “clinch” nailing go to photo number140 of this post.

 

In addition, the QTMC discontinued shipping all shoes size number 5 and size number 5 ½ and all shoe sizes in width ‘A’ overseas. This was done because most soldier’s were now wearing two pairs of heavy woolen socks, and because the average size of the soldiers foot had increased by approximately 1 ½ sizes. Also, the regulation sizes for field shoes was enlarged by the addition of sizes 12 ½, 13, 13 ½, 14 and 15. This size issue was elaborated on in the following article published in the New York Times newspaper:

 

Shoe Sizes

Well-Shod-Soldiers

American Army Has Best Footgear

That Ever Was Taken to War

The American soldiers have not only clear heads and brave hearts, but the biggest understanding, so far as feet go, of any army in the world. The present National Army shoes average a full size and a half larger than those of any previous American army. Heretofore the army shoe most in demand was 7 E. The average size of the marching shoe today is 8 1/2 D. Instead of one style of shoe, each soldier is now supplied with two styles, a marching shoe and a field shoe.* The average size of the field shoe, which is of heavier material, is 9 E. Men who are in service whose shoes, made especially for them are 15 EEE.

 

For its millions of soldiers the Government has had a series of studies of soldier’s feet and the proper fitting of shoes completed by a staff of officers, enlisted men and military orthopedists, under the direction of the Quartermaster General and the Surgeon General. The experiments and tests were carried on for many months at a number of camps and cantonments. These resulted in changes and improvements in patterns and lasts that have brought to the soldier’s feet a shoe almost perfect for comfort and endurance**

So determined is the Government that its men shall be perfectly shod that only the choicest portion of skins for uppers and soles are passed to go into the finished product. The marching shoes are medium lightweight, fitted perfectly to the foot, and give to the wearer an easy swinging gate that carries him forward with surprising speed. The field shoe is heavier, and, where it is to be worn in the trenches, hobnails as to sole and plated as to heel.

 

Immense shoe shops have been built behind the lines in France, and soldier’s shoes as soon as they are in need of repair, are taken back to these shops and made good as new.

 

The scientific way of shoeing the soldiers has given America the freest-footed army the world has known. A man on good terms with his feet is pretty nearly 100 per cent fit all the time. Uncle Sam has taken care of his boy’s stomachs and their feet in first-class, scientific style. With these advantages and good weapons, plenty of ammunition, and the folks at home lending them heartfelt cheer, the journey to Berlin is shorn of many disadvantages. “Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching,” and with the best footgear.

 

New York Times, November 17, 1918

*”Marching shoe” was a reference to the 1912 Russet Leather Shoe. “Field shoe” referred to any specification of the hobnailed Trench, Pershing or Victory Field Shoe.

 

**Most of the studies mentioned were conducted between 1908 and 1912 by the 1908 Army Shoe Board under the guidance of Major Edward Lyman Munson of the Medical Department. The result of which was the Munson shoe last, the Russet Leather Shoe, and a complete overhaul of how the Army determined the size of the shoe that was to be worn on a soldier’s foot.

 

General Pershing approved of the board’s findings and the recommendations were cabled to the War Department in January of 1918. One month later, the 1918 Metallic Fastened Field Shoe … aka the Pershing Shoe, Specification No. 1309 was adopted on March 2, 1918.

 

1918 Field Shoe, Specification No. 1309

Model “A”

Adopted on March 2, 1918

The 1918 Field Shoe was described thusly in the post war book titled, The Army Behind the Army:

 

The so called “Pershing shoe” … really should have been classified as tanks instead of shoes, for they could go anywhere, they could withstand any amount of use or abuse, and they were, literally speaking armored. The “Pershing shoe” has three outer soles which are fastened to an inner sole of outer-sole quality and thickness, first by nailing, then by screws, and finally by stitching with heavy linen thread; the toe is reinforced with a molded steel plate; both sole and heel bristle with hobnails, and as a final touch, the heel has a heavy steel horseshoe around its edge. It was by long odds the best shoe worn by any army.

 

The Army Behind the Army, Edward Alexander Powell, 1919, page 180

Photo No. 136: A closer view of an unissued pair of Pershing Shoes. Note the heavy triple leather sole, the steel toe plate, and the thicker steel heel plate. One of the thousands of Doughboys who actually wore the Pershing Field Shoe had this to say about his ungainly iron studded footwear:

 

Got the full equipment today. I have some of the cutest little hobnail shoes with light soles ¾ inch thick and 3 kegs of nails in the soles of each. I have shined them up until they look like patent leather.

Sergeant Charles L. Johnson, 10^th Infantry Division

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 137: While the 1917 Trench Shoe (left) and the 1918 Pershing Shoe (right) share many common attributes, the difference between the uppers and soles of the two shoes can be seen in this side by side comparison. The most obvious being the steel toe plate toe plate and the thicker sole on the Pershing Shoe.

 

Photos courtesy of the Kration collection

[world war I nerd]

The primary characteristics of the 1918 Field Shoe, Specification No. 1309 are as follows:

• The Pershing Shoe did away with the welt as the 7-iron inner sole of outer sole quality was not sewn onto the cowhide upper. It was instead clinch nailed using lasting tacks.
• The 8-iron top sole, 8-iron middle sole, and 10-iron outer sole were sewn together with 9-cord, waxed linen thread.
• All four soles: inner, top, middle and outer were then clinch nailed using No. 10 nails and screwed or “metallically fastened” by means of brass standard screw wire.
• The bottom filler was once again comprised of ground cork and cement.
• The forepart of the outer sole was studded with round, oval headed hobnails. However, a new pattern was adopted to allow room for the toe plate.
• A case hardened steel toe plate, which projected ½ inch over the front of the sole was screwed onto the bottom of the shoe.
• A heavier steel horseshoe shaped plate that was 3/16^th of an inch thick and 3/8^th of an inch wide replaced the thinner 1/8^th inch thick steel heel plate that was used on previous specifications.
• One row of hobnails was added inside the horseshoe shaped steel plate to protect the inner heel from wear.
• The shoe was constructed from vegetable tanned, natural colored cowhide or kip, “heavily stuffed with “pure greases”, with the rough side of the leather turned out.
• The thickness of the leather at the vamp was to be no less than 2.5 millimeters and not more than 3 millimeters in thickness.
• Each component of the shoe’s upper was to be cut only from what was called the “bend” portion of the cowhide.
• A new “counter” pattern was designed for this shoe. However, counters cut on the same patterns that were used on the Specification No’s 1269 and 1271 shoes were also used on this shoe.
• The back of the heel counters were sewed to the upper using three rows of stitching.
• The stitching on each side of the heel counter was vertical.
• A 5/16^th inch diameter japanned steel rivet was used to strengthen the front corner of each blucher ear.
• All sizes of the shoe had seven rows of brass lacing eyelets.
• The shoe was unlined.
• Each shoe was ink stamped on the inner side of the quarter with the contractor, contract date, specification number, and depot.
• The shoe’s size and width was also permanently die cut into the top of the quarter using a steel cutting stamp with the model “A” to follow the size.
• Each shoe’s size and width was also stamped into the shank area of the outer sole near the heel.
• Each shoe’s upper was waterproofed during the manufacturing process with a waterproofing solution known as “dubbing”. In addition, a “liberal supply” of that solution was applied to the seam where the vamp and the sole were joined.
• Each shoe weighed approximately 2 pounds, 12 ounces.
• Each shoe was approximately 7 inches high from the bottom of the heel.
• The shoe was manufactured in 15 lengths running from 5 to 15 by half sizes. No half size was available for size number 15. Each length was available in six commercial widths (B, C, D, E, EE & F), making a total of 90 available sizes.*

* A new wooden shoe last on which to fabricate the Pershing Shoe was necessary because the ¾ inch thickness of the shoe’s sole reduced the flexibility of the bottom of the shoe to the point where it was nearly impossible for the foot to bend the sole when walking. As a consequence, the toe of the shoe dragged on the ground and was quickly worn out. Therefore a new last was made with more “spring” giving the shoe what was called a “rocker bottom”. The Specification No. 1308 Munson Metallic Last was also enlarged throughout, and was approximately 2/8^th of a size larger than the last that was used to fabricate the 1917 Trench Shoe. The new and larger Pershing Shoe was elaborated on in the Stars and Stripes newspaper:

 

NEW SHOES SERVICE RECORD

Briefly the new shoe’s service record is this: Wider last, higher instep, more toe room (allowing the wearing of additional socks), toe plate projecting up over end of sole, heavier heel plate, sole attached in a manner to prevent leaks, absolutely waterproof. It has been tested at an A.E. F. orthopedic hospital and a fine report has been given it. It is estimated that the new issue will reduce shoe replacement by not less than 50 per cent.

 

Stars and Stripes newspaper, May 31, 1918, Vol. 1, No. 17, page 1

Photo No. 138: It was well known to the Army that the foot of the average soldier while marching one mile flexes some 2,000 times. Therefore, the AEF was concerned that the rigidity of the Pershing Shoe’s collective total of ¾ inches of sole leather would impair the soldiers’ ability to march and that it could cause serious damage to their feet. However, after thoroughly testing the shoe with both its weight and flexibility in mind, at the AEF orthopedic camp known as Camp Page located near St. Aignan, it was determined that:

 

The weight of the shoe was good for campaigning in France; that the flexibility was good for a shoe of this weight.

 

Medical Department of the United States Army in the World War, Vol. VI, Sanitation, 1926, page 629

The external traits that identify the 1918 Pershing Shoes are pointed out on this pair of unused 1918 Metallic Fastened Field Shoes.

Photo courtesy of the Kration collection

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 139: The configuration of the 1918 Pershing Shoe’s sole is shown in this diagram. The increased thickness of the shoe’s sole combined with the brass screw fasteners made the shoe’s sole extremely rigid, and therefore unsuitable for mobile troops. However, the fact that trench warfare in general, required far less mobility, the heavy Pershing Shoe was adopted despite it unsuitability for marching.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 140: Detail showing how the clinch nailed method of securing the soles in place made it literally impossible for them to separate no matter how often they were immersed in mud and water. “Screw shoes” or “metallic fastened shoes” were shoes whose soles were fastened to the insole by means of heavy threaded wire. On the Pershing Shoe standard brass screw wire was mechanically screwed through the parts to be fastened and automatically cut off at the required length. This method of uniting the soles formed a very secure fastening, but it made the shoe’s bottom extremely rigid.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 141: The toe of the Pershing Shoe was guarded against premature wear by the addition of a 1/16^th inch thick, case hardened steel toe plate. The flanged toe plate was shaped to project ½ inch over the front of the shoe, thus protecting both the bottom and front of the shoe from direct wear. The toe plate’s bottom was stamped with twelve studs and screwed onto the bottom of the shoe with by oval head, driving screws 5/8^th of an inch in length. The left hand photos show both the front and the bottom of the steel toe plate. At the time the Pershing Shoe was adopted steel toe plates were prescribed for all specifications of the field shoe still in production. This created yet another variation of the hybrid or Transition Shoe as shown by the Doughboy on the right wearing 1917 Trench Shoes bearing steel toe plates.

 

Doughboy photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 142: After the Salvage Service was established, it was found that through use, the size and width markings stamped in indelible ink on the inside of the upper were completely wore away during use. This made the task of determining the size of a refurbished shoe somewhat difficult. A selection of ink stamps that over time, would ultimately be obliterated are shown next to a pair of 2^nd Division Doughboys wearing 1917 Trench Shoes in occupied Germany.

 

Doughboy photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 143: Beginning in March 1918, the size and width of each Pershing Shoe was permanently cut into the upper. The 3/8^th of inch tall markings were partially cut into the leather, thus ensuring that the shoe’s size would never be erased by wear. The boxed numeral following four of the six die cut size markings presumably identified one of the 53 shoe factories that fabricated the Pershing Shoe.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 144: The left hand photo shows a Doughboy equipped for service overseas. Not only is he wearing a pair of 1918 Shoes, but a second pair has been tied to the outside of his haversack. The backstay portion of the Pershing Shoe’s heel counter was made wider to accommodate an extra row of stitching. This was added in an attempt to prevent the backstay from splitting.

 

Doughboy photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

[world war I nerd]

1918 Field Shoe, Specification No. 1310

Model “B”

Adopted on March 2, 1918

On the same day that Model ‘A’, Specification No. 1309 was adopted, Model ‘B’, Specification No. 1310 was also adopted on March 2, 1918. Aside from knowing the specification number along with the date that it was adopted, I have no additional information explaining how the Model ‘B’ Pershing Shoe differed from the Model ‘A’ Pershing Shoe.

 

If any forum member owns a pair of Pershing Field Shoes that are stamped either “Mod A” or “Mod B” next to the die cut size marking on the inside of the quarter, can you please post photos of the side, back, and bottom of the shoe along with a close up of the die cut stamp? If we can get both the Model ‘A’ & ‘B’ we might be able to work out what the differences between the two specifications are.

 

Photo No. 145: Two photos of soldiers wearing the 1918 Pershing Field Shoe “bookend” a pair Pershing Shoe’s with factory applied dubbin, and an example of the “MOD B” die cut stamp that appears next to the shoe’s size and width on the inside of the quarter. Presumably the Model ‘A’ was stamped in a similar fashion.

 

Doughboy photos courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

[world war I nerd]

1918 Field Shoe, Specification No. 1323

Adopted on April 12, 1918

Specification No. 1323 was identical to Specification No. 1309, except for the fact that the minimum thickness of the vegetable tanned cowhide used for the vamp was increased by approximately 0.3 millimeters in thickness.

 

1918 Field Shoe, Specification No. 1324

Adopted on April 12, 1918

Specification No. 1324 was identical to Specification No. 1323, whose upper was to be fabricated from either vegetable tanned “bends” or chrome vegetable retanned “bends”. However, due to the limited supply of vegetable tanned cowhide and the great length of time required to complete the tanning process, the Pershing Shoe’s specifications were amended. The amended 1324 specification permitted shoe manufacturing firms to fabricate the uppers from either vegetable tanned cowhide or chrome vegetable retanned cowhide.

 

Photo No. 146: Regardless of which tanning method was used, the uppers of all Pershing shoes were to be cut from only the prime portion of a cow’s hide. That area of the cow’s hide was known in the leather industry as the “bend”. The bend was comprised of the rump or rear flank, after the belly, shoulder, hind shank, fore shank, and neck sections had been removed. A bend was considered to be the strongest and finest portion of the entire cow’s hide. Specifications for the Trench Shoe called for the uppers to be fabricated from “side” leather, which was comprised of both the bend and the shoulder.

The uppers of the Pershing Shoe were said to be both the finest and the heaviest of all the field shoes worn by any army involved in the Great War. The shoes worn and carried by this Doughboy are Pershing Field Shoes. Their dark color indicates that they had been waterproofed with dubbing during the manufacturing process.

 

Doughboy photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

[world war I nerd]

Neetsfoot Oil, Shoe Grease & Dubbin

The Trench Shoes sent over to the AEF in the summer of 1917 were not waterproofed. This fact generally went unnoticed until the French weather took a turn for the worse during the autumn season of that year. The lousy weather in the vicinity of the Neufchateau training area along with the effect that it had on the Doughboys rough side out Trench Shoes did not go unnoticed by the Division Quartermaster of the 26^th Division:

 

I never saw so much rain and mud in my life. Their feet were generally wet and we were experimenting with shoes. We turned the leather wrong side out and fixed the pores so that they would act like siphons – and fill our shoes with water.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph W. Beacham, Division Quartermaster, 26^th Division, AEF

The 42^nd Division’s experience with the recently issued Trench Shoes told a similar story during the winter of 1917 - 1918:

 

Soon the hobnails turned into a major problem, a disaster that threatened the long march and the very health of the regiment. The biggest problem was that they absorbed water quickly and when dried out, shrank and turned hard as iron. At night the men pulled them off, but in the morning they had a miserable time trying to get the stiff shoes back on. Capt. George Mc Adie, the Scottish commander of A Company reported that, “practically one half” of his company was late for reveille every morning on the march “due to the length of time it took to put their shoes on.” Jim Mc Kenna, over in D Company, agreed, “When drying out after having been wet, or when frozen during the night as was often the case, it was very difficult to get the shoes on. Many men worked a long time, in some cases more than one hour, before they were able to get into their shoes.”

 

During the night many of the troops took their hobnails to bed, hoping that body heat might keep them from getting stiff. In the morning they still had to knead their unforgiving shoes in an effort to make them pliable. When nothing worked, they pounded down the back of the shoe and then cut open the toes with bayonets. Thus they exposed their toes to the bitter cold, snow and ice. Duffy remembered how some of the boys stuffed straw of paper into their shoes and burned the paper, hoping to warm their shoes.

 

Duffy’s War, Stephen E. Harris, 2006, page 130

Photo No.147: It was said that the porous surface of the 1917 Trench Shoe as worn by the left and right hand soldiers from an unknown engineer regiment in training soaked up “water just like a sponges” when exposed to inclement weather.

 

Photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

[world war I nerd]

Initially neetsfoot oil, supplied by the QTMC was used to render the smooth side out russet leather marching shoes waterproof. If neetsfoot oil was unavailable other acceptable substitutes included Vaseline, lanoline, and castor oil, all of which could be obtained from the Medical Department. In emergencies unsalted beef tallow and bacon rind both from the company kitchen could also be used.

Overseas the problem was such that the 1^st Division appointed a board of officers to concoct a makeshift “shoe grease” composed of one part tallow and two parts neetsfoot oil during the winter of 1917 – 1918. According to one source, “one such treatment resulted in a very satisfactory-waterproofing, and invariably a second similar treatment completed the waterproofing of the shoes.” Unfortunately the homemade shoe grease, which came to be called “dubbin” arrived too late as, “most of the grease furnished our men was issued after their shoes were wet and did not prove of much value,” if we are to believe volume 12 of the World War Records: First Division, A.E.F. Regulars.

 

Photo No. 148: While the Pershing Shoe was being manufactured, the Chief Quartermaster, AEF insisted that the shoe be waterproofed before leaving the factories. Therefore, Specification No’s 1309, 1310, 1323, and 1324 were, when finished dipped in a liquid dubbin. This practice was later discontinued due to the grubby dark brown appearance caused by the waterproofing solution. It was also doubtful as to whether or not the factory applied dubbing actually helped waterproof the shoes. Note how the factory applied dubbing darkened the natural tan color of the cowhide on this late war production pair of Trench Shoes.

[world war I nerd]

In respect to waterproofing their Trench and Pershing Shoes American Doughboys used just about any greasy substance that came to hand. Whilst crossing the Atlantic a draftee from New York described a routine day at sea and what some of the men used to waterproof their field shoes during the voyage:

 

Boat drills, a little guard duty and trying to cultivate a taste for Oleo margarine. Not many succeeded in getting over the Oleo and in a number of instances it was used to grease hiking shoes.

 

Private Harry W. Smith, Company L, 305^th Machine Gun Battalion, 77^th Division, AEF

Hot on the heels of the retreating German Army an artillery man took advantage of some discarded or forgotten shoe waterproofing compound compliments of the Imperial German Army:

 

I found some German shoe grease lying on the floor, so I doped up my shoes then took a good wash and shave, repacked my saddlebags and cleared up the room.

 

Sergeant Elmer Frank Straub, Battery A, 150^th Field Artillery Regiment, 42^nd Division, AEF

Photo No. 149: the darkened tone of this Doughboys 1917 Trench Shoes indicate that they have been greased with one variety of dubbin or another.

 

Doughboy photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

 

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 150: Due to the even application of waterproof dubbin applied to this pair of Pershing Shoes, it was more than likely done at the factory where they were manufactured.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 151: The inclement weather that was common to northwestern France, made having a weatherproof shoe of vital importance while tramping through the mud and water filled shell holes. Apparently, it was related to one Doughboy that it was also dangerous to wear untreated field shoes in any area that was exposed to gas shells:

 

“They use quite a bit of gas here, phosgene and mustard. Anything sounds like a dud you start sniffin’ for gas. They mix gas shells in with their high explosive stuff tryin’ to catch you off guard. Phosgene won’t bother you much, blows away fast and even if you do get a whiff they say it’s good for a head cold. But you want to track down every mustard shell burst and sprinkle the place with lime. The stuff hangs on a long time in this cold, wet weather. And have your men wear rubber boots when he’s doing the sprinkling.”

 

“Sure rubber boots. Don’t you folks have any? Too bad. Them shoes with the rough side out soak in this mustard gas right along with the water just like sponges.”

 

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

Background photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 152: Comparison of the natural and dark colors of waterproofed and un-waterproofed Pershing Field Shoes.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 153: Eventually a shoe waterproofing grease, or dubbin as it was called, which had no odor and would not turn rancid was developed by the QTMC and issued to each Doughboy in 4 ounce tins. In between the pair of 2^nd Division Doughboys wearing untreated (left) and treated (right) Trench Shoes is a British Army issued tin of dubbin. Beneath the British shoe grease is the dark brown or olive drab painted tin in which the U.S. Army’s issued dubbin was supplied.

 

Doughboy photos courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

[world war I nerd]

Extra Hobnails

Photo No. 154: The weight of the basic infantryman’s equipment including rations and overcoat was nearly 50 pounds. Add to this the steel helmet, gasmask, spare trench shoes, additional ammunition, plus stores for the trenches and the total weight that a Doughboy shouldered as he moved up to the front could be north of 70 or more pounds. While moving up to the Meuse River in October of 1918 one Doughboy described the average load carried by the men in his company, most of whom were suffering from foolishly imbibing too much vin rouge the night before:

 

The day became hot, the headaches worse, and the packs heavier. The basic loads were monstrous. Two blankets, shelter half, pole and pins, two days rations, spare clothing, toilet articles, and mess gear were rolled or stowed in the pack and carrier. Each man had pick, shovel, bolo or hatchet. The cartridge belt hung from the pack suspenders with one hundred rounds, canteen and first-aid packet. The gas mask satchel slaps along side. The load was topped off by the overcoat rolled in the raincoat, plus a spare pair of hobnailed shoes.

The riflemen were carrying their Springfield’s, one hundred rounds in the belt and two bandoleers with sixty rounds each. The bombers were armed as riflemen except that a satchel of a dozen hand grenades was carried in place of the bandoleers. The rifle grenadiers each had a carrier of twelve grenades and the gunner of each team also had his tromblon* But my sympathies were principally with the auto-riflemen. The gunners had the nineteen pound Chauchat blunderbuss and a bag of four half-moon magazines of thirty rounds each plus the cavalry revolver. Team leaders and carriers equipped as riflemen lugged two bags of 8-mm ammunition, a load more suitable for a donkey.

 

Each man was carrying seventy to seventy five pounds, generally more than was carried by the infantryman of Caesar’s day or Napoleon’s time. And aside from the railroad and the new fangled motor trucks, neither of which were available to us, the transportation situation was exactly the same for us as it had been for Caesar’s legions or Napoleon’s old guard. We had to carry our extra ammunition because no one knew where or when we would have to use it or what the supply situation would be at that place and time. But we sure would have been a lot happier if our overcoats and spare shoes had been on the wagons instead of riding top-heavy on our packs.

 

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

*“Tromblon” was the French name for the rifle grenade launcher that would be attached to the rifle grenadier’s Springfield or Enfield rifle.

 

The Doughboy’s pack when carrying a rolled overcoat and extra shoes was known as “heavy marching order”. Two examples of that and a display of its contents are shown here.

 

Upper left hand photo courtesy of the Portraits of War collection

[world war I nerd]

AEF regulations required that each soldier have two pairs of shoes in his possession at all times – one pair on his feet and the other usually tied onto his pack. In theory, each pair of shoes was to be rotated every day. However, these orders were difficult, if not impossible to carry out, especially when under fire in a front line trench. This made the spare pair of hobnail shoes an unnecessary burden in the opinion of this member of the 27^th Division:

 

On June 5, we arrived at Noyelles-Mar, detrained at 7:30 a.m. and marched to an American staging camp and in that village had some bully-beef and tea. We then returned to a field opposite the railroad station and turned in the extra equipment that was issued to us before we left the States. I did not understand why they did such a thing at the time, but just as soon as we started HIKING we all understood and would like to have dropped our extra hob-nailed shoes as a relief also. The only thing that we have double is two pairs of shoes. That looks as though we are going to do a lot of walking.

 

Private First Class, John Joseph Brennen, Company C, 102^nd Engineer Train, 27^th Division, AEF

Photo No. 155: This squad of infantrymen are wearing “long packs” with extra hobnail shoes and trench tools attached. The steel toe plates and hobnailed inner heels indicate that the spare shoes are Pershing Shoes. Note that the right hand soldier is carrying the 1910 Pick-Mattock behind his meat can pouch, and that the man next to him has a pair of 1908 Wire Cutters under his meat can pouch.

Photo courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection

[world war I nerd]

The actual fate of thousands of pairs of spare Trench and Pershing Shoes that were probably reported as “lost in action” was explained by a soldier in the 90^th Division:

 

We had no more than started when the men began ditching overcoats, extra hobnail shoes and everything they did not need.

 

Corporal Vincent Cornelius Reed, Company K, 358^th Infantry Regiment, 90^th Division, AEF

Another Doughboy, recalled how the majority of the men in his outfit disposed of their unwanted spare hobnail shoes:

 

Most of the men lost their extra shoes, generally to a French farmer for F30 to F50. I got only F20 for mine. Many of the spare shirts went the same way. Due to the French climate no one lost his woolen underwear or raincoat and extra socks were particularly prized.

 

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

Photo No. 156: This squad of men in heavy marching order all have 1917 Trench Shoes or possibly 1918 pattern Pershing Shoes tied onto their haversacks. It’s difficult to determine with certainty which type of shoes are on their feet, but they appear to also be 1917 Field Shoes.

[world war I nerd]

Photo No. 157: Studies conducted by the AEF showed that the Doughboys were prone to discard certain items of their equipment while on the march in order to lessen the weight of their pack. Data showed that on average, only 9.5% of the men threw away articles of equipment. The most common articles and the ratio among the 9.5% were as follows:

• Breech sticks for the Enfield rifle – 100%
• Tent pegs and shelter half pole – 95%
• English wire cutters – 75%
• Extra shoes – 50%
• One blanket – 30%
• Extra suit of underwear – 25%
• Small U.S. wire cutters – 2%

The spare shoes carried by these Doughboys are from left to right, Pershing Shoes, more Pershing Shoes, and what looks like a British manufactured ankle boot.

 

Left and center photos courtesy of the John Adam-Graf collection