Quote Originally Posted by puddlemuddle View Post
A lot of officers (especially in the Irish Rgts) would have had a nice walking or "Pace" stick, also known as a swagger stick...
Pace sticks and "swagger" sticks are two different things. Pace sticks are carried by sergeants, and are used (among other things) to "pace off" the parade ground (they open to 30 inches, the standard military "pace"). A swagger stick is a light, leather covered piece of cane, similar to a riding crop, and it is used by officers when inspecting troops to point out defects in the soldiers kit or appearance.

The use use of pace sticks is not unique to Irish regiments, but common to all regiments (and the RAF, RM, and RN, as well). The same also broadly applies to swagger sticks.