Military hose tops

[Macman]

I used to wear those in the reserves 35 years ago. They are pulled on over your regulation grey socks; then the shoes and spats go on. We wore them for full dress only. For non-dress, we had them in plain olive colour, and instead of spats we wore short puttees which covered the area between the boots and the hose-tops. I remember wrapping the puttees was quite an art.

[Nanook]

I used to wear those in the reserves 35 years ago. They are pulled on over your regulation grey socks; then the shoes and spats go on. We wore them for full dress only. For non-dress, we had them in plain olive colour, and instead of spats we wore short puttees which covered the area between the boots and the hose-tops. I remember wrapping the puttees was quite an art.

Tell me more about the puttees as I thought they went out with trench warfare.

For the same reasons (even more so) that hose tops came to be used in the military I think hose tops could be put to fashionable use. They are cheaper and more rational than full hose. If one can accept low sitting kilts made out of synthetic materials, leather or cotton then why not take hose tops into a new context? Seems like a lesser sacrilege of symbols.

[Woodsheal]

For the same reasons (even more so) that hose tops came to be used in the military I think hose tops could be put to fashionable use. They are cheaper and more rational than full hose. If one can accept low sitting kilts made out of synthetic materials, leather or cotton then why not take hose tops into a new context? Seems like a lesser sacrilege of symbols.

I agree. I think they'd work fine - and look good! - with ankle-high chukka or brogan type shoes....

[macwilkin]

I agree. I think they'd work fine - and look good! - with ankle-high chukka or brogan type shoes....

I have a picture of the Argylls in the South African (Boer) War, circa 1901, which shows them wearing their distinctive diced hose in the field, with leggings & issue boots. It's quite a picture (taken in front of a blockhouse) which shows the "field expedient" uniforms that the Boer War produced. Chukkas (traditional ones, a la LL Bean, Orvis, etc.) might simulate this look.

However, given that diced hose are generally associated with the regiments, I wonder if one could assume that the wearer is "playing soldier" if not part of a reenactment unit? Just thinking out loud, no offence meant.

Regards,

Todd

[Woodsheal]

Hosetops also come in non-military "argyle" style:

http://www.jhiggins.net/catalog/hose_argyle.html

[Warlock]

I think both go really well with Kilts. I just like them. { I know I'm strange.}

[Nanook]

I have a picture of the Argylls in the South African (Boer) War, circa 1901, which shows them wearing their distinctive diced hose in the field, with leggings & issue boots.

Please, if possible, post the photo. Could be quite inspiring.

However, given that diced hose are generally associated with the regiments,

Its, I think, really only the red/white diced hose that have come to--- and only really by highland outfit cognoscenti-- to be associated with regimental dress. Most, I think, associate the kilt or even highland garb, with or/without diced, Argyl or tartan hose with pipers (not even drummers!). Many years ago (before the influx of the fashion) I was asked by a small child where my bagpipes were. I was, however, not wearing a kilt but knickerbockers and Argyl hose. Seemed traditional enough to call for bagpipes.

I wonder if one could assume that the wearer is "playing soldier" if not part of a reenactment unit?

I wonder the same of all the kids running about in the camouflage motif clothing that has been fashionable over the last few years.

I see so many young men dressed as either sportmen, street gang warriors, estranged members of a paramilitary unit or Mujahideen fighters (that missed that right in Albequerque) that its hard to really distinguish reenactment from reality.

And in this outfit? I think they'd all be looking for the bagpipes!

[macwilkin]

Please, if possible, post the photo. Could be quite inspiring.


Its, I think, really only the red/white diced hose that have come to--- and only really by highland outfit cognoscenti-- to be associated with regimental dress. Most, I think, associate the kilt or even highland garb, with or/without diced, Argyl or tartan hose with pipers (not even drummers!). Many years ago (before the influx of the fashion) I was asked by a small child where my bagpipes were. I was, however, not wearing a kilt but knickerbockers and Argyl hose. Seemed traditional enough to call for bagpipes.

I wonder the same of all the kids running about in the camouflage motif clothing that has been fashionable over the last few years.

I see so many young men dressed as either sportmen, street gang warriors, estranged members of a paramilitary unit or Mujahideen fighters (that missed that right in Albequerque) that its hard to really distinguish reenactment from reality.

And in this outfit? I think they'd all be looking for the bagpipes!

The Black Watch, KOSBs, wore red & black diced hose though, the Scots Guards and the QOH wore green and red, and the London Scottish wore Hodden Grey and purple, so it's not just the "pink and whites" of the Argylls -- any "diced" patterned hose seem to be associated with the regiments -- tartan hose are a different story, although some of the dancers of the various regimental bands wear full tartan hose. But I do see & agree with what your saying about the Argyll hose being associated with Pipe Bands.

I do agree with your points about camo. items being worn today; I always thought they look like some of Castro's guerillas in Mountains!

The picture is in Osprey's "Boer Wars (2) 1898-1902" by Knight and Embelton. I'll see if I can scan it.

Regards,

Todd

[Macman]

Tell me more about the puttees as I thought they went out with trench warfare.

These puttees (at least, that's what we called them) were the same as or similar to the British pattern in the Second World War as worn with battledress trousers. My memory could be wrong, but I recall them being roughly three feet long and around 4-5" wide, with a little bit of elasticity. They had a triangular end, to which was attached a one inch wide cotton strap of maybe another 18". When wrapped around the ankle and lower calf, it was maybe 6-7" wide, with the triangular end on the outside ankle. They differed from the ones I've seen circa the Great War which came up a lot higher on the calf. I'll point out that at the time I was wearing them (early 1970's) the Canadian military was not spending a whole lot of money on its reserve forces, so we wore kit that was at least one generation old. Our day uniforms were basically from the 1940's and 50's.

[Nanook]

These puttees (at least, that's what we called them) were the same as or similar to the British pattern in the Second World War as worn with battledress trousers. My memory could be wrong, but I recall them being roughly three feet long and around 4-5" wide, with a little bit of elasticity.

From the description it seems that they were a kind of puttee. Interesting!

Perhaps one could, my mind drifting, do a variation on these.. (still hoping for a scan of the Boer era kit). Inspiration..

Lets face it.. even the best hose do demand maintenance. While these skills were once widespread (alongside knitting) they are now niche talents. Today most people's socks are cheap, made in some Chinese factory, reasonably strong (nylon reinforced) and disposable (the use of elastics anyway limit their lifespan).