The boots were for army use only !

Hertfordshire Mercury,11th May 1918

At Ware Petty Sessions, Frederick Albon (30), cowman, of Crown Villas, St Margarets, was charged with illegally purchasing a pair of army boots.

Police Constable Reed stated that he had found the man wearing the boots at Stanstead and, when he spoke to him about them, the defendant said that he had bought them from a strange soldier for 5 shillings.  Captain Graddon, an army officer, proved that the boots were of the high-legged army pattern, and valued them at 50 shillings.  The defendant said that he had bought the boots innocently.  He was fined 1 guinea.