From: Siggy-is-not@home.com 
  
 Michael Cuell wrote: 
 > A second response, now that I've done more research. 
 > 
 > The Pace Stick evolved from callipers used by the artillery to measure 
 > the distance between guns on the firing line. But you knew that. 
  
         Actually, I did not. I'm Signals, not Arty....  
 I do have a master Gunner though for a Sgt Major.....I'll run this one by 
 him 
  
 > What is more obscure is the origin of the drill cane. There is some 
 > evidence to suggest that it is an evolution of the pike (spear like 
 > implement) carried by SgtsMaj at the rear of an attacking force. The 
 > pike would be used to "encourage" the troops to move in the proscribed 
 > direction. There are some who say that this pike was in itself an 
 > evolution of the "vine cane" carried by Roman Centurions, which was 
 > essentially used for the same purpose. 
 > Regards... 
 > Michael 
  
 Yes, I thought it had origins of some kind of "motivator" 
  
 Cheers.....Todd   VVV 
  
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