Bidspirit auction | WWII Lieutenant Colonel Swagger Stick

WWII Lieutenant Colonel Swagger Stick - WWII Lieutenant Colonel Swagger Stick. WWII trench art. This trench art piece was fashioned into a swagger stick by the soldier who made it. Swagger sticks trace their origins back to the Imperial Roman army, when centurions carried a vine staff as a badge of office. Swagger sticks are normally made of wood and vary in length but are always too short to be used as a cane. They are normally carried under the left arm and held parallel to the ground leaving the right arm free to salute. Although not common in the American Army, they were a required item for enlisted men and NCOs in the British Army before the war. They were to be carried when “walking out” or leaving the barracks for the evening. Dimensions: H 24.25 x W 1 x D 1 inches Condition: Good for age, wood is worn a bit Provenance: Private Texas Collection