Pair of puttees worn by Captain R T P Williams, 5th Battalion, The King's African Rifles, 1963 (c)

Puttees were worn by the British Army as part of the khaki service uniform adopted in the early 1900s. Originally long narrow pieces of cloth that were wound tightly and spirally around the lower legs, later shortened canvas versions were attached with fastenings. They covered the gap between trousers and boots and prevented dirt entering the latter.