Museum IV.

This is coolbert:

Exhibits/artifacts/Displays.

* Uniforms.

The War Museum DOES have an extensive display of military uniforms. As worn by the soldiers from all American wars as fought in the 20th Century AND the conflicts currently being fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The uniform as worn by the common soldier during World War One [WW1] is particularly intriguing to me. A wool tunic worn over a wool pullover shirt with wool trousers.

Wool! All wool. Thick, heavy, scratchy, coarse wool.

[a nice aspect of the War Museum is that YOU CAN TOUCH THE EXHIBITS! FEEL THE COARSENESS OF THE WOOL WW1 UNIFORMS. “GET A FEEL” FOR WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT!!]

My understanding is that the wool uniform - - and ONLY the wool uniform - - was issued to - - and worn by troops of the era [WW1], regardless of duty. Fatigue, combat, in-ranks inspection, parade, etc. It did not matter what the assignment was, what time of the year, your location on the planet. YOU WORE THAT WOOL UNIFORM, AT ALL TIMES, FOR ALL OCCASIONS, AND THAT WAS THAT!

Two unique features of military uniforms of that period [WW1] have always made me wonder. “What was the function of those ‘things’”??

Spats. Worn over the top of the foot and the ankle. So the lower part of the pants would not flop loose??

Puttees. Cloth wraps that went over the outer lower leg from the ankle almost to the knee. Function? Those puttees only hastened and exacerbated the medical condition of “trench foot”? Long prolonged exposure and immersion of the feet in cold-water leads to the disabling and crippling malady. Amputation of the feet being quite often the only recourse available to the attending physician. A PHENOMENON FIRST OBSERVED IN THE TRENCHES OF WW1 BATTLEFIELDS!!

coolbert.