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Known throughout the army as the PBI, the 'Poor Bloody Infantry'. The infantryman's role and the conditions in which he was fighting, changed considerably during the war. In 1914, he looked like a country gamekeeper, equipped for mobility and concealment and armed for his role as a rifleman. By 1918, he looked more like an industrial worker, with steel helmet and other protective items. He was also by then likely to have been trained as a specialist in the machine-gun or in the use of hand grenades or other equipment. He was also trained to work in small multifunctional groups, coordinated with artillery, tanks and aircraft.
1914: "gamekeeper"

The infantryman's standard service dress was of khaki cloth, consisting of a peaked cap, a tunic with large pockets, shirt and trousers (flared breeches for mounted men) that were bound below the knee by puttees. He wore stout leather ankle boots, called "Ammunition Boots". Mounted men also wore spurs.

 

He would carry in his kitbag spare boots, tunic, trousers, shirt, socks and underwear. He also had a greatcoat and a woollen cap. This kit was usually left in the care of the company quartermaster sergeant.

 

Infantry troops also wore weatherproof web equipment, consisting of a belt and braces that had several buckles and clips. Attached to the webbing were two leather multi-pocket carriers with in total 150 rounds of ammunition; a haversack containing rations and cutlery; a bayonet scabbard; a water bottle in a small harness; an entrenching tool; and the pack containing the greatcoat, mess tins, washing and shaving equipment, spare clothing and a ground sheet. In all, when fully equipped, this totalled 61 pounds (27.7 kg) in weight.
All ranks carried a rifle - which for the regular battalions (and after the early days when all sorts of older equipment was supplied to the Territorial and Service Battalions, all of these were eventually similarly equipped) was the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE). The only exceptions were officers, Pipers, Drummers, Buglers and the five men in each battalion who carried range-finding instruments. All those carrying a rifle, except the RSM and other Staff-Sergeants, were also armed with the sword-bayonet.

There were inevitably some exceptions: troops in Scots regiments wore a glengarry in place of the cap, and Highland regiments wore a kilt with shoes and gaiters, instead of the trousers, puttees and boots.

 

Pipers of the Scots Guards and Highland regiments carried a dirk; both they and men carrying range-finding equipment had a Webley pistol. Only drummers and buglers carried no arms.
As seen here, shorts were issued in very hot weather.
The uniform of the artillery was similar to that of the infantry. These men, who are quite probably Drivers of horse teams that pulled the mobile guns and ammunition limbers of the Royal Field Artillery, are wearing ammunition bandoliers, a white lanyard around their left shoulder and spurs on their boots.
1918: "industrial worker"

All men were eventually issued with a steel helmet. The delivery of the first one million was completed by first week of July 1916, having started in late 1915.

 

From mid-1915, men were also issued with some form of protection against poison gas. The P (phenate) gas helmet with glass eyepieces was introduced in November 1915. It did not protect adequately against Phosgene, and was replaced by the PH (Phenate-Hexamine) helmet from January 1916. From August 1916, the PH was replaced by the small box respirator, which although an unwieldy design gave protection against the different gases in use. More on gas warfare

 

As the fighting equipment and tactics developed, naturally the selection carried by an individual soldier varied depending on date and his role. The most significant additions for the infantry were the Mills bomb (hand grenade), and the Lewis machine gun. Front-line units soon developed a strong reliance on them. Initially handled by many men, specialists were developed and the rifle began to regain its former position of importance by 1918, among the infantry.
Infantry officers

Officers wore a better-tailored jacket, with a tie. They wore breeches rather than trousers, with a Sam Browne leather belt. They carried a haversack with compass, water bottle, mess tin, wire cutters and binoculars. Officers also carried a sword and pistol (in the latter case they could choose which model to have, but were recommended the Webley Mark IV).

 

The officer's spare kit and personal effects were carried in a leather valise that was carried by the transport. The often immaculate condition of staff officers was a source of amusement and resentment to the fighting men. Staff were conspicuous by the red tabs on their jacket collars.

 

Casualties among the differently-attired officers were high and they were reckoned to be an easy target; eventually officers often went into action wearing the uniform of the "other ranks".

 

 
Non-standard dress and equipment

This photograph of a soldier of the 5th Scottish Rifles in the flooded trenches near Armentieres in the winter of 1914-15 is used with the kind permission of Donna Smillie, and is from her excellent website Different Worlds.

 

This young man is wearing a standard issue balaclava or "cap, comforter".

 

During winter periods, goatskin fleeces or leather jerkins were also worn, in addition to all manner of caps, scarves, gloves, etc. Many of these were provided by clubs, associations and individuals from home. The winter of 1914-15 in Great Britain was a frenzy of knitting socks!

 
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