Puttees
 

The general rule for puttees is that infantry and un-mounted troops rolled from the bottom up while mounted troops rolled from the top down. A couple of questions.
1. Mounted Rifles who served dismounted (as in 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th CMR) would wrap as infantry?
2. Did all artillery wrap down? Or only mounted artillery personnel? RHA, RCHA, drivers etc would wrap down, but would all gunners?

Hi
No answers for me.
But I'm interested

Jean-Paul

[QUOTE=Bill A;404041]The general rule for puttees is that infantry and un-mounted troops rolled from the bottom up while mounted troops rolled from the top down. A couple of questions. QUOTE]

Not heard of this, what is the reason for the difference?

Marc :)

I certainly was aware of this but as to the exact ramifications ...?

The reason was to do with riding. The puttee was more prone to unwind if a soldier was on a horse and the tape was at the top. It would rub against the animal or saddle and unravel. If the puttee was taped off at the ankle it was not rubbing against the horse or stirrups.
And that in particular leads to my question about the artillery. The guns were moved by horse, but did that mean all the gun crew wore their puttees mounted style?

Thank you Bill.

Well from the pictures I have seen of gunners with puttees on they have been from the top down, regardless of branch. Of course there are those that did not wear any or wore the long leather gaiters.

Marc

Hi Bill,
Ours were classed as mounted branch and were issued leggings, regardless of mustering as driver or gunner.
Keith

A couple of examples. The two clearly wound top down are an officer and OR of the Cavalry MGC. The other is a Queen's Westminster Rifleman. I'll see if I can find a clearer example of bottom up winding.

Jon