WW1 Turkish Soldiers Pair of Leather Shoes

Exceeding rare and unusual Turkish soldier's open top shoes. The Turkish army was largely a peasant army and thus the equipment and uniforms were very basic. There is another identical shoe ( in worse condition) held by the Australian War Memorial and was collected at Gallipoli. Y an ANZAC member and borough home to Australia and can be viewed online.
This example made from thick cow hide. The body of the shoe is cut from a single piece of leather gathered into shape around the upper edge by means of a leather thong threaded through a series of slits. The toe is sewn into a traditional upturned point. There are five broad leather keepers attached around the back of the shoe with leather thongs. These hold a leather strap and buckle in place to adjust the fit of the shoe. The strap also passed through a T-strap attached to the centre front of the shoe. The heel is reinforced both inside and underneath the body of the shoe by leather semi-circles attached to each others by a series of nails.

These are the first pair I have ever had or sighted in my long carrier as a dealer.

Code: 1816