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Date | Original Topic | 15th January 2005 | Sticks By Richard In the film Colour Sergreant Bourne is shown carrying a swagger stick. In the Victorian Army would he really have carried one, or would he have actually have carried a pace stick? | Date | Replies | 15th January 2005 | Martin Everett Dear Richard,
I do have photographs of Colour Sergeants of the South Wales Borderers carrying silver tipped canes (c1880s). it would appear only the Sergeant Major carried a pace stick. This is unchanged today.
Company Sergeant Majors carry parade canes (stouter version of the swagger stick) and the Regimental Sergeant Major a pace stick.
| 16th January 2005 | Ian All ranks of the British army had to carry walking out canes, in Victorian times. It would take a new recruit about 2 weeks to save up for one & they were not aloud to 'walk out' without one, which meant staying on camp for at least the first fortnight. | 17th January 2005 | Mike Snook Chaps
In fact the RSM and CSMs all carry a pace stick today.
M | 18th January 2005 | Richard Thanks for all those replies. One thing I do know is that in The Light Infantry, Gurkhas and RGJ pace sticks arent used at all, and in some cavalry regiments the Sergeant Majors carry riding crops. |
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