The history behind the B5 boot
Born from necessity during the First World War and crafted to endure the harshest conditions imaginable, it remains one of the most enduring symbols of British bootmaking. The B5 boot was first introduced in 1915, at the height of the First World War, as part of an effort to improve on the earlier B2 model. British troops needed a boot that could survive the unrelenting conditions of trench warfare, constant mud, water, and wear. The War Office commissioned a sturdier, more protective design that would last longer in the field, and the B5 was born.
Built to military specification, each boot featured a higher cut for ankle support, thicker leather for protection, and a reinforced sole that could handle long marches across unforgiving terrain. The result was a boot made not for style, but for survival.
Among the original contractors producing these boots was William Lennon & Co., established in 1899 in Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire. More than a century later, they remain one of the few surviving British manufacturers still producing footwear in the traditional way. Together we created a modern B5 WWI Replica boot that isn’t a reinterpretation but a continuation. William Lennon still use the original cutting knives and the wooden 2181 square-toe last from their factory archives, preserving the same proportions and techniques that shaped the original boots made for soldiers more than 100 years ago.
One of the most distinctive features of the original B5 boot was its hobnailed sole, iron nails hammered into the sole and heel to provide traction, stability, and protection. In the trenches, these small metal studs helped prevent soldiers from slipping in mud and added vital durability to the sole. The nails also created the unmistakable clatter of soldiers marching, a sound that became synonymous with the British Army. Each pair of B5s was commissioned for soldiers as part of their issued kit, designed to withstand the daily punishment of the front lines. Over time, the boot became a trusted companion, worn, repaired, and often kept as a memento by those who made it home.
Period photographs showing varied hobnail patterns in use. Image Source: http://www.greatwarforum.org
After the war, the B5’s design influenced decades of military footwear. It was eventually superseded by the Ammo Boot, a sleeker but no less functional evolution. Yet, the B5 remains a true testament to British craftsmanship. It's built for endurance, defined by purpose, and still handmade today with the same tools as the originals.
The Bradwell B5 WWI Replica Boot pays tribute to that legacy. Using Waxy Commander leather from Charles F. Stead, heritage brass-screw construction, and a double leather midsole with Dainite rubber, it captures the essence of the original, rugged, reliable, and unmistakably British. More than a replica, it’s a piece of living history, built by the same hands, on the same last, using the same tools - a reminder that true craftsmanship never fades, it simply endures. Join the waitlist now for one hour early access to the limited 50 pair drop.
