Certainly back in the 60s the SWO carried a pace stick during practice parades. When I was with 114 Sqn at Benson back then we had a Standard presentation, there were endless practices before the real thing. The SWO was Mr 'Bog' Holt (I seem to remember the soubriquet referred to his bog-brush moustache). He was highly respected, and quite fearsome. I remember he had no qualms about correcting the Sqn Cdr (Wg Cdr C R Evans, anyone remember him?), and as for us JOs, after a couple of sessions with Mr Holt, our sword drill was immaculate!