The Austrian Army Puttees: A Historical Uniform Accessory

Puttees, also spelled putties, are cloth bands wound around a soldier's leg from ankle to knee. They were widely adopted by various armies, including the Austro-Hungarian Army, during or before World War I. Puttees were designed to provide support and protection to soldiers during long marches and harsh weather conditions. They were made from wool or cotton fabric and could be wrapped tightly around the leg to improve circulation and provide insulation. Puttees were also used to protect shoes from debris and offered ankle support. However, they fell out of favour during World War II due to concerns about hygiene and the time required to carefully wind them around the legs.

Puttees were widely adopted by many armies during WWI

Puttees, also spelt putties, are cloth bandages that soldiers wind around their legs from ankle to knee. They provide support and protection from the elements. Puttees were worn by both mounted and dismounted soldiers, generally taking the place of leather or cloth gaiters.

The puttee was also adopted by other armies during or shortly before WWI, including those of the British Commonwealth, the Austro-Hungarian Army, the Chinese National Revolutionary Army, the Belgian Army, the Ethiopian Army, the Dutch Army, the French Army, the Imperial Japanese Army, the Italian Army, the Portuguese Army, the Ottoman Army, and the United States Army.

The puttee fell out of use during WWII due to the time-consuming process of winding them and medical concerns about hygiene and varicose veins. However, they continued to be used in some armies until the 1940s due to their cheapness and easy availability.

They were originally worn by soldiers in British India

Puttees, also spelled putties, are cloth coverings for the lower part of the leg from the ankle to the knee. They are worn by soldiers to provide support and protection. Puttees are wound tightly and spirally around the leg, taking the place of leather or cloth gaiters.

The puttee was first adopted as part of the service uniform of foot and mounted soldiers serving in British India during the second half of the nineteenth century. In its original form, the puttee comprised long strips of cloth worn as a tribal legging in the Himalayas. The British Indian Army found this garment to be both comfortable and inexpensive, although it was considered to lack the smartness of the gaiter previously worn. Puttees were worn by both mounted and dismounted soldiers, with infantry puttees wound up from ankle to knee, and cavalry regiments wound down from knee to ankle.

The puttee was widely adopted by a number of armies, including those of the British Commonwealth, the United States Army, the Chinese National Revolutionary Army, the Italian Army, and the French Army. Puttees were in general use by the British Army as part of the khaki service uniform worn from 1902 until 1938, when a new battledress was introduced. Puttees generally ceased to be worn as part of military uniforms during World War II due to the difficulty of putting them on and medical concerns. However, they continued to be used in some armies until the 1940s due to their cheapness and easy availability.

During World War I, about 1.5 million South Asians fought for the British, with one out of every six British soldiers being South Asian. Puttees were also worn by Australian soldiers during this time, although they were partly blamed for the development of trench foot due to limiting circulation to the lower leg and foot.

Puttees are wound ankle to knee for infantry and knee to ankle for cavalry

Puttees are cloth bands wound around the leg, serving to provide support and protection. Adapted from the Hindi word "paṭṭī", meaning bandage, puttees consist of a long, narrow piece of cloth wound tightly and spirally from the ankle to the knee. They were worn by both mounted and dismounted soldiers, generally taking the place of leather or cloth gaiters.

Puttees were worn by soldiers in the Austro-Hungarian Army, among many other armies, including those of the British Commonwealth, the Chinese National Revolutionary Army, the Belgian Army, the Ethiopian Army, the Dutch Army, the French Army, the Italian Army, the Portuguese Army, and the United States Army. Most of these armies adopted puttees during or shortly before World War I.

While puttees were designed to provide support and protection when walking and against harsh weather conditions, they were also associated with some medical issues. For example, many Australian soldiers developed trench foot during their service on the Western Front in World War I, and puttees were found to be a contributing factor due to limiting circulation to the lower leg and foot.

Now, regarding the specific way of winding puttees:

For infantry, puttees are wound from the ankle to the knee. This method provides support and protection for the lower leg, which is especially important for soldiers marching long distances or navigating rough terrain. The infantry includes foot soldiers who benefit from the ankle support provided by this style of winding.

For cavalry, puttees are wound from the knee to the ankle. Cavalry soldiers, being mounted, require less ankle support and instead focus on the protection of their upper legs. This style of winding also allows for easier movement while riding, as the puttee is wound in the opposite direction of the infantry, providing a smooth outer surface when sitting on a horse.

They are made from a long, narrow piece of cloth

Puttees are cloth bands that soldiers wind around their legs from the ankle to the knee. They are made from a long, narrow piece of cloth, which is wound tightly and spirally around the leg. The cloth is usually wool, but can also be cotton. Puttees are designed to provide support and protection from the elements. They serve a similar function to gaiters, but are made of cloth rather than leather.

Puttees were worn by soldiers in the Austrian army, as well as in many other armies around the world, including those of the British Commonwealth, the Chinese National Revolutionary Army, the Belgian Army, the Ethiopian Army, the Dutch Army, the French Army, the Italian Army, the Portuguese Army, and the United States Army. Most of these armies adopted the use of puttees during or shortly before World War I.

Puttees have a long history, dating back to ancient times. They were originally worn as tribal leggings in the Himalayas and were later adopted by the British Indian Army in the 19th century. While puttees were appreciated for their comfort and low cost, they were also considered less stylish than gaiters. Over time, puttees were gradually replaced by other forms of legwear in military uniforms, with most armies phasing them out during World War II due to the time-consuming process of winding them and medical concerns about hygiene and circulation.

Today, puttees are no longer commonly used by military forces, but they can still be found in some historical reenactments and special occasions. They serve as a reminder of the past and a testament to the resourcefulness of soldiers throughout history.

Puttees are no longer worn as part of military uniform

Puttees, also spelled putties, are derived from the Hindi word "paṭṭī", meaning bandage. It is a cloth band that is wound tightly and spirally around the lower part of the leg from the ankle to the knee. They were designed to provide support and protection to soldiers when walking and were worn by both mounted and dismounted soldiers. Puttees were widely adopted by several armies, including the Austro-Hungarian Army, the British Indian Army, the Belgian Army, the US Army, and many others, during World War I. They were usually worn as part of the service uniform.

However, puttees are no longer worn as part of military uniforms. There are several reasons for this change. Firstly, puttees were time-consuming to put on, as they had to be carefully wound around each leg. This was especially problematic in situations requiring quick deployment or when soldiers needed to move swiftly. Secondly, there were medical concerns about their impact on hygiene and the potential for puttees to cause varicose veins. In addition, puttees were found to limit circulation to the lower leg and foot, which contributed to the development of trench foot among soldiers serving on the Western Front during World War I.

While puttees offered some benefits, such as being comfortable and inexpensive, they were also considered less aesthetically pleasing than other garments, such as gaiters. Gaiters are garments worn over the shoe and lower pant leg, and they can be quickly put on without the need for careful winding. With the introduction of new battledresses in various armies, puttees were replaced by short webbing gaiters secured with buckles or short ankle-length leggings.

Although puttees were discontinued as standard military wear during World War II, they were retained by some armies, including the Italian, French, Japanese, and Red Armies, until the mid-1940s due to the easy availability and low cost of cloth leggings. The British Army also briefly returned to using ankle-high puttees in the 1960s with the introduction of the 1960 Pattern Combat Dress, but these were eventually phased out in the 1980s.

Frequently asked questions