KILTY Posted 11 July , 2003 Share Posted 11 July , 2003 I can well imagine the problems that a pair of tight fitting boots would cause during the Great War. I read that Officers found half a bottle of whisky poured into the offending boots and left overnight cured the problem: But the infantrymen used a more organic liquid. ( and cheaper). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 11 July , 2003 Share Posted 11 July , 2003 This is serious stuff Kilty! When I joined the Air Force, I applied the same organic method in its 3rd generation. It still is the one and only successful method Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KILTY Posted 11 July , 2003 Author Share Posted 11 July , 2003 EGBERT, To quote Winston Churchill, " Doesn't it make you feel proud to be British". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevebec Posted 11 July , 2003 Share Posted 11 July , 2003 Agreed the organic liquid is good but you can also use hot water for the job. I soaked them in hot water (dunked) then wore them for the day. By the end they fitted nicely. Dont forget the blacken them a few times also. S.B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 11 July , 2003 Share Posted 11 July , 2003 KILTY, don't miss the point: I mean LUFTWAFFE Another proof that the certain organic stuff is international,(so is hot water) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
182 CEF Posted 12 July , 2003 Share Posted 12 July , 2003 When I was in the Canadian Army we would wear our boots in a cool shower in the morning and wear them all day. This formed them to your feet. Dean Owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 12 July , 2003 Share Posted 12 July , 2003 Dean, and got trenchfeet??????????????????????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hill 60 Posted 12 July , 2003 Share Posted 12 July , 2003 Damn, I was a lucky bunny . My boots fitted me from day one, and never caused me problems. No organic liquid solutions for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 12 July , 2003 Share Posted 12 July , 2003 Mine bl**dy well didn't! And my feet are still suffering! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hill 60 Posted 12 July , 2003 Share Posted 12 July , 2003 Mine bl**dy well didn't! And my feet are still suffering! Ah, but I was so deformed when I joined up that all my uniform fitted perfectly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Birch Posted 12 July , 2003 Share Posted 12 July , 2003 Does anyone remember "spooning" the toe cap with a heated up spoon on melted black polish to get a shine better than patent leather? Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted 12 July , 2003 Share Posted 12 July , 2003 Tim, Yes I do, to smooth down the little dimples, do you remember people being sent to the NAAFI for "little circles" to get extra shiny boots. I wasn't one of them, honest. Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 14 July , 2003 Share Posted 14 July , 2003 And did anyone 'burn' their boots? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Parker Posted 14 July , 2003 Share Posted 14 July , 2003 When I was doing my basic at Catterick the Cpl says I'll show you how to burn the pimples off with a hot spoon but if anyone gets caught doing it they'll charged for destroying government property. All those hours sitting there with a cloth, tin of polish with water in the lid, going round and round in circles. But didnt you like the finish when the toecaps shone like glass. I was very lucky all my issued boots both DMS and the later Combat boots, fitted like a glove from day one. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 14 July , 2003 Share Posted 14 July , 2003 We had two pair issued before basic. In basic one had to be spit shined at all times but they made us alternate pair so we had to spit shine one pair every night. I still cannot say this contributed one bit to making anyone a better soldier it's just army idiocy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 14 July , 2003 Share Posted 14 July , 2003 On the subject of boots, is there truth in the tale that, pre-1914, boots were issued one pair black, one brown, and that all converged on black when brown polish was unobtainable? Also that, on active service, boots were to be dubbinned rather than polished, and then miraculously bulled if a parade was laid on? On the subject of organic liquids, not a lot of people realise that, for married quarters, officers' chamber pots had a handle, to stop their thumbs getting wet [RAF tale] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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