Riding boots

Western Australia’s General Commanding Officer of the Western Command Sir James Harrison strode the streets of London in these boots after having them made for himself in the 1950s. He’d just endured years of hellish warfare as one of the Australians directly fighting German troops across Europe. He’d joined the Third Army and fought under esteemed American General George Patton, famed for his successful tank warfare. Back in Australia, Harrison went on to become South Australia’s first Australian-born governor. He brought these boots with him as a dignitary opening Scotch College, where his cousin’s son, Ted Harrison, attended school. He later visited Ted’s family farm and gifted the boots to the youngster.The younger Harrison deeply admired his second cousin and so treasured the boots. But he was soon disappointed when he found the boots were too small for him!