Anklets are worn 90 per cent of the time, puttees are pretty rare and generally with hose/socks and shorts or bombay bloomers as anklets tend to look silly with socks and shorts.
In sicily/italy troops very often wore neither to improve air flow, you regularly see KD or denim trousers worn unbloused in the field.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
which doesn't necessarily mean that puttees or gaiters were worn underneath...
Having worn JG trousers without gaiters, you can see why they would be needed... You're ankles are quite unprotected when crawling through undergrowth. Wearing puttees or gaiters underneath might be a good idea.
I have absolutely no proof that this was done, it just seems like a good idea to me!
Most troops hated puttees so i cant see them wearing them unless they have to.
In the north african and italian campaigns period pics show dress regs went out the window as troops wore whatever was comfy and practical from KD to BD and often german kit.
Pics from Italy generally show much looser uniformity of clothing and even some troops in sandals... cant see anyone wearing anklets with sandals...
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
I have pictures from Italy of troops in KD shorts hose tops and puttees and with scrubbed anklets. The anklets look very strange as they just sort of float around the top of the boot.
The pictures with trousers look like they have anklets but the bagginess of the trousers hides them
yes... anklets do look odd:
Heh, I'd only just bought the shorts and shirt (hence why they're all crumpled) and I'd left my puttees and KD web belt/ anklets at home...
