Chaps,
I just picked up this fabulous matched pair of field gray ersatz ankle boots, basically a papercloth version of the standard ankle boot. From the condition of the wooden soles and the papercloth uppers, I assume they were unissued. I cannot believe that these were worn in the trenches, surely they would be too fragile? Does anyone have photographic evidence of soldiers wearing these boots. Johan Somers provided me this information on the production of this ersatz pattern boot by the Prussian and Bavarian War Ministries:
23.11.1917 : Prussian war ministry issued manufacturing rules for ersatz boots (papercloth) with wooden soles
24.12.1917 : Bavarian " " " " " " " " " " "
3.12.1917 : Prussian war ministry issued manufacturing rules for metal soles
6.12. 1917 : Prussian war ministry issued samples of papercloth for the manufacturing of the boots
14.1.1918 : Boots were found not adequate and manufacturing stopped in Prussia
22.2.1918 : Boots were found not adequate and manufacturing stopped in Bavaria
13.3.1918 : Prussian war ministry issued improved samples of papercloth for the manufacturing of the boots & manufacturing continued
1.4.1918 : Bavarian war ministry issued improved samples of papercloth for the manufacturing of the boots & manufacturing continued
29.11.1918 : Prussian war ministry stopped manufacturing of papercloth boots, being replaced by leather
24.1.1919 : Bavarian war ministry stopped manufacturing of papercloth boots, being replaced by leather
I don't know whether my boots are the 1917/early 1918 version or the later 1918 improved pattern. The manufacturer's stamp on both boots is:
W H N
191
So the stamp includes the date'191' but the last digit has not been stamped.
Mike
I just picked up this fabulous matched pair of field gray ersatz ankle boots, basically a papercloth version of the standard ankle boot. From the condition of the wooden soles and the papercloth uppers, I assume they were unissued. I cannot believe that these were worn in the trenches, surely they would be too fragile? Does anyone have photographic evidence of soldiers wearing these boots. Johan Somers provided me this information on the production of this ersatz pattern boot by the Prussian and Bavarian War Ministries:
23.11.1917 : Prussian war ministry issued manufacturing rules for ersatz boots (papercloth) with wooden soles
24.12.1917 : Bavarian " " " " " " " " " " "
3.12.1917 : Prussian war ministry issued manufacturing rules for metal soles
6.12. 1917 : Prussian war ministry issued samples of papercloth for the manufacturing of the boots
14.1.1918 : Boots were found not adequate and manufacturing stopped in Prussia
22.2.1918 : Boots were found not adequate and manufacturing stopped in Bavaria
13.3.1918 : Prussian war ministry issued improved samples of papercloth for the manufacturing of the boots & manufacturing continued
1.4.1918 : Bavarian war ministry issued improved samples of papercloth for the manufacturing of the boots & manufacturing continued
29.11.1918 : Prussian war ministry stopped manufacturing of papercloth boots, being replaced by leather
24.1.1919 : Bavarian war ministry stopped manufacturing of papercloth boots, being replaced by leather
I don't know whether my boots are the 1917/early 1918 version or the later 1918 improved pattern. The manufacturer's stamp on both boots is:
W H N
191
So the stamp includes the date'191' but the last digit has not been stamped.
Mike
