Both the infantry and cavalry were numbered prior to the First World War. In the Otter reorganization of 1920 the infantry regiments were required to remove their numerical designation and used names only. The cavalry were allowed to continue using numerical designations or names. The XIII Regiment eventually became the RHLI in 1927.
I don't think the powers that organized things put much weight in superstitions. They would assign the numerical designation and the unit would have little say.
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Res ipsa loquitur
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