Pair of leggings, United States Army, M1938, 1944 (canvas)

Pair of leggings, United States Army, M1938, 1944. These lace-up leggings are made of olive drab canvas and were designed to cover the gap between trousers and boots and prevent dirt entering the latter. They were worn by a fifth grade technician of the 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. The latter formation was a National Guard division from Maryland and Virginia. Known informally as ‘England’s Own’ it was posted to England in 1942. Initially stationed at Tidworth, it later undertook coast watch duties in Devon and Cornwall. On 6 June 1944, the 29th Division formed part of the first wave of landings in the ‘Easy Red’ sector of OMAHA Beach.