A ghurka told me that the Japanese used use the cross-lace method whereas Tommy used the parallel lacing. When the ghurkas were on night-ops, they would creep up behind a sentry and feel for his boot laces: if they were crossed, out came the khukri.
The OP merely confirms what I suspected about a lot of Supply officers... the two short planks syndrome still exists despite Bliars mantra of 'education, education, education'. Mind you, he'll make a great movements officer.
