mystery boots

[uncle bill]

I can't get a photo of these up but will try with a description. They have a leather sole with hobnails and horseshoes and look in every way identical to Great War pattern boots. They have a pull tab and are marked with a W D plus arrow and the number 20. They also have a rivet at the base of the lace holes of which there are only six. I thought that the standard boots had seven holes. Can anyone help out there ?

[uncle bill]

By the way, they are black and have a pebbly leather finish.

[Guest Clinton Brunt]

Uncle Bill,

I am certainly no expert, however, after really looking at period images of boots there was a tremendous amount of variation! The hobnail patterns, lack of toe plates (being replaced by a crescent of hobnails round the toe), the shape of the quarters, type of leather used, etc- all can and did show a great amount of irregularity.

I've even seen a few images of men with the soles of their boots showing and the two boots have different hobnail patterns!

As you stated, they're marked as British boots, despite the slightly abnormal amount of eyelets. My best guess is that these boots represent just another variation made in the press of getting boots to the troops.

Sincerely,

Clinton

[uncle bill]

Thanks. I'm going to send pictures to Joe, hopefully he will know.