Originally Posted by
NutLoose
Yes so you could see who was who from behind, you didn't carry it on the front as officers and SNCO would be targets, and you should be able to recognise their faces.Similar reason most officers etc carried the same weapons as the troops, a pistol for example would tend to make you stand out as an officer.
WW1 German snipers were told to aim for "the man with thin legs", i.e. an officer wearing jodhpurs and riding boots.