Ammunition boot

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Ammunition boots are heavy ankle boots that were the standard British Army combat boot from the 1860s until the 1960s, when they were replaced by Boots DMS. They were also worn by other Commonwealth forces and are still used today for ceremonial duties, especially by the British Army’s Household Division for the King’s Guard.

These boots earned their name because they were bought as "ammunition quality" gear by the Master Gunner and Munitions Board at Woolwich. They were unlined, with leather laces, an iron heel plate and toe plate, and an iron-studded leather sole. The vamp and sides were often made from a different leather than the toe cap and heel counter. Built to be hard-wearing rather than comfortable, the hobnail soles made a loud crunch when marching, giving them the nickname "crunchies."

Patterns and changes over time

- Before World War I soldiers typically wore two pairs, usually brown; black polish was used for parade.
- 1037 (1887–1907) was the main pattern, with Boer War variants.
- 1037i (1907–1911) improved version.
- 7325 and 7326 (1911–1914) used while researching replacements.
- A and HN series were experimental in the 1910s but obsolete by WWI.
- 1915 B2 and B5 introduced to save leather, with woven laces, a plain leather counter, and either a seam or rivets between parts of the boot.
- 1918 9902 featured a one-piece clump sole, smooth vamp and quarters, and a pebbled counter and toe-cap; brown leather could be polished black.
- 1924 Pattern 4055 was the forerunner of the Boots, General Service (BGS) and had 25 hobnails.
- 1927 Pattern 10085 became the later BGS version, in black leather.
- Drivers wore boots without hobnails to avoid damaging pedals; this extended to armoured crews in 1942 and waterborne crews in 1943. Specialists and ammunition storemen used regular ammunition boots with rubber heels and crepe soles to avoid sparks near explosives.
- Some WWII versions used by the Canadian Army and issued to the RAF and Royal Marines lacked a toe cap.
- In 1942 the number of hobnails was reduced (first to 15, then to 13) to save leather and speed production.

Care and polish

High polishing was a big part of wearing them. Soldiers spent long hours buffing the boots to achieve a mirror shine, sometimes using beeswax heated on a spoon to smooth the surface.