Gum boots

Gum boots, also known as trench waders, is another term used for the rubber thigh boots served out to men going into the trenches, popularised by the "Wellington Boot" or "Wellies" worn by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. During the First World War production of the Wellington boot increased dramatically, especially after the first winter, as the need for suitable footwear to cope with the perpetually muddy, battle-torn lands across Europe were essential. The War Office approached the North British Rubber Company to construct a suitable boot for difficult, flooded terrains in the trenches. They produced a total of 1,185,036 pairs to meet the British demands.