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					Originally Posted by Jim McDougall  ..I am wondering if perhaps flank company officers, who like infantry officers, were typically mounted might have preferred the option for both. 
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...Until rifles became more prevalent on the battlefield, especially with skirmishers, who were rather fond of shooting officers, easily distinguished by being mounted. This also signalled the death-knell of infantry officers carrying swords in WW1. Maybe they still mounted for parades.