[Lynn Eades]

I guess when the troops wiped out a few front guards, the powers that be saw the error of fitting the data plate to the guard and ordered the change.
Once the order went out (which may have included instructions to weld up holes) then the old stock guards would have been still used.
It was a time of no waste. I have 3 years of army council instructions. one item covers the recycling of old rubber bands and the return of the worn bits of rubber from old pencils!