MILITARY ABBREVIATIONS AND TERMINOLOGY
in the broader sense: army, navy, air force, space force, marines, or coast guard.
Many abbreviations will have to be read in context, the conflict, area and country/countries involved, etc.
There is much editing to be done in removing duplication in this current listing and combine into one big list!
Your patience please while I try to find time to do this work.
The first section is the main database. Everything below this are multiple listings that will be incorporated into the main database.
~ A ~
AA Anti-aircraft
AACD or AAChD Australian Army Chaplains Department ~ e.g. Allotted for duty from AAChd (UC) = Allotted for duty from Australian Army Chaplains Department (United Churches)
AAH Australian Auxiliary Hospital
AAMC Australian Army Medical Corps
AANC Australian Army Nursing Corps
AANS Australian Army Nursing Service
AAOC Australian Army Ordnance Corps
AASC Australian Army Service Corps
AB/Dvr Able Bodied Driver
A.C.G. (P.D.) Assistant Chaplain General (Protestant Denominations)
ACMF Australian Citizen Military Forces
ADBD Australian Divisional Base Depot
ADC Aide-de-Camp
ADH Australian Dermatological Hospital
AE Australian Engineers
AE&MM&BC Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company
AFA Australian Field Artillery
AFC Australian Flying Corps
AFPO Armed Forces Post Office; Australian Field Post Office
AGBD Australian General Base Depot
AGH Australian General Hospital
AIBD Australian Infantry Base Depot
AIF Australian Imperial Force(s)
AIF (1st AIF) Australian Imperial Force (WW I)
AIF (2nd AIF) Australian Imperial Force (WW II)
AIP Australian Imperial Post ??
AL Rwy Australian Light Railway
AM Aircraft Mechanic
AMF Australian Military Forces
AMGBD Australian Machine Gun Base Depot
AMTS Australian Mechanical Transport Service
AN&MEF Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force
ANZAC Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
AOC Army Ordnance Corps
APO Army Post Office
A&QMG Adjutant and Quartermaster General
Arty Artillery
ASC Army Service Corps
ASH Australian Stationary Hospital or Australian Special Hospital
ASP Ammunition Sub Park
AVES Australian Veterinary Evacuating Station
AVH Australian Veterinary Hospital
AWM Australian War Memorial
~ B ~
BAC Brigade Ammunition Column
BCOF British Commonwealth Occupational Force
Bde (Army) Brigade
Bdr Bombardier
BEF British Expeditionary Force
BG Brigadier General
BGGS Brigadier General, General Staff
BGRA Brigadier General, Royal Artillery
BGROC Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company
BMHA Brigade Major, Heavy Artillery
BMRA Brigade Major, Royal Artillery
BL Breech Loading
BM Brigade Major
Bn - Btn (Army) Battalion e.g. m/o to 32 Aust Inf Trng Bn = Marched Out to 32nd Australian Infantry Training Battalion
Brig Brigadier
BTE British Troops in Egypt
Bty (Army) Battery
~ C ~
Capt Captain
CB Counterbattery
CBSO Counterbattery Staff Officer
CCS Casualty Clearing Station e.g. detached to 2/1 Aust CCS = detached to 2nd 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station
CE Chief Engineer
CGS Chief of the General Staff
C-in-C Commander in Chief
CIGS Chief of the Imperial General Staff
CMF Citizen Military Forces or Commonwealth Military Forces
CMGO Corps Machine Gun Officer
Col Colonel
Con Dep Convalescent Depot
Cpl Corporal
Coy Company
CRA Commander, Royal Artillery
CTE Corps Troops Engineers
Cyc Cyclist
~ D ~
DAC Division Ammunition Column or Division Artillery Column
DADOS Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services
DCM District Court Martial
DD Details Depot
Den Cps Dental Corps
Div Division
DMGO Division Machine Gun Officer
DSC Divisional Supply Column
~ E ~
EEF Egyptian Expeditionary Force
EMM&B Coy Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company
Engrs Engineer
~ F ~
~ F ~
F Amb Field Ambulance
FAB Field Artillery Brigade
Far Farrier
FCE Field Company Engineers
Fd, Fld Field e.g. Fld Svy Coy = Field Survey Company
FM Field Marshal
FP1, FP2 Field Punishment No 1 or No 2 - Field punishment was an award by a commanding officer or court martial for an offence committed on active service. FP1 consisted of heavy labouring duties whilst restrained in handcuffs or fetters and being tied to a post or wheel. FP2 did not involve attachment to a fixed object.
FTD Full Time Duty
~ G ~
GD General Duties
GDD General Details Depot
GHQ General Headquarters
GS General Staff
GSO General Staff Officer
GSR General Service Reinforcements
GSW Gun Shot Wound
~ H ~
HMAT His Majesty's Australian Transport
HS Hospital Ship
HT Hired Transport or Horsed Transport or Horse Transport
HTM Heavy Trench Mortar
HTMB Heavy Trench Mortar Battery
HQ Headquarters
~ I ~
Inf Infantry
~ J ~
JCS Joint Chiefs of Staff
~ K ~
KIA, K.I.A. Killed in action
~ L ~
L/Sgt Lance Sergeant
LGROC Light Gauge Railway Operating Company
LH Bde Light Horse Brigade
LHFA Light Horse Field Ambulance
LHR Light Horse Regiment
LHRR Light Horse Reserve Regiment
LHTR Light Horse Training Regiment
LMG Light Machinegun - belt or magazine-fed automatic section weapon, capable of firing bursts of multiple rounds as long as the trigger is pressed, normally supported by a bipod. (See also MG,SMG)
L of C Lines of Communication (Line of Command) e.g. Entrained West Command for NSW L of C = Entrained West Command for New South Wales Line of Command
Q: ….. have been able to figure out but some I cannot. For example "Q LofC or NSW LofC". The only thing I can think of for this would be Queensland Location of Camp!!! Any help very much appreciated. I believe it is Line of Communication. I'm still trying to understand what it means though.
A: It is indeed Line of Communication. This is a military term. In addition to the combat troops, whose job is to kill the enemy, and the troops in direct support of them, there are troops who provide administrative and logistic functions to the rest of the army. They drive trucks, handle supplies, repair equipment and keep track of the paperwork. Another name for this activity is the "line of communications". In peacetime (ie 1922-42), the army in Australia was divided into divisions which contained the combat troops and military districts (roughly corresponding geographically to the states) which provided the administrative and logistical functions. These were replaced by Line of Communications Areas in 1942 -- a more formal yet flexible arrangement. The achievement of the Line of Communications troops, both at home and overseas should not be underestimated, for they enabled the US and Australian Armies, Navies and Air Forces to take the field against the Japanese in the undeveloped jungles of the South West Pacific and ultimately to defeat them.
L/Sgt Lance Sergeant
LST Landing Ship, Tank
Lt or Light Lieutenant
LTMB Light Trench Mortar Battery
~ M ~
Maj Major
MD Military District, as under:
1 MD Queensland plus Casino, Lismore and Grafton [from NSW] and NT
2 MD New South Wales less Casino, Lismore, Grafton [to NSW], Broken Hill Torrowangee and Silverton [to SA], Corowa, South Corowa, Mulwala, Moama, Mathoura and Deniliquin [to VIC], plus Wodonga, Barnawartha, Chiltern and Tallangatta [from VIC]
3 MD Victoria less Wodonga, Barnawartha, Chiltern and Tallangatta [to NSW], plus Corowa, South Corowa, Mulwala, Moama, Mathoura and Deniliquin [from NSW]
4 MD South Australia plus Broken Hill, Torrowangee and Silverton [from NSW]
5 MD Western Australia
6 MD Tasmania
7 MD After WW1, Papua New Guinea was ceded to Australia and added as the 7th Military District
MEF Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli)
MG Machine gun, Machinegun - belt-fed automatic small-arm capable of firing bursts of multiple rounds as long as the trigger is pressed, normally fired from a tripod or bipod, can be water-cooled. (See also LMG, SMG)
MG Coy Machine Gun Company
MGGS Major General, General Staff
MG Sqn Machine Gun Squadron
MI, M/I Marched In
MIA Missing in Action
MID Mentioned in Despatches - Level four Imperial award for all ranks, not used as a post-nominal. The modern Australian equivalent is the Commendation for Gallantry or Distinguished Service.
Mil Military e.g. Mil PO = Military Post Office
MO, M/O Marched Out
MO Medical Officer
MSM Meritorious Service Medal - Imperial award made rarely for gallantry, more often for efficient/effective service. The modern Australian equivalent is the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) or the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)
MTC Mechanised Transport Company
MT/Dvr Mechanical Transport Driver
MTMB Medium Trench Mortar Battery
Mtd Reg Mounted Regiment
MU Medically Unfit
mufti plain clothes worn by one who has right to wear uniform
M Vet Sec Mobile Veterinary Section
~ N ~
NAB Not Available
NC, N.C. N Comd etc Northern Command (Also known as 1 MD)
NEG Negligent, Negligently
NTH North
NYD Not Yet Determined/Diagnosed
NZEF New Zealand Expeditionary Force
~ O ~
OBE Order of the British Empire - Imperial honour granted to officers for gallantry, but more often for effective/efficient service and colloquially known by Australian soldiers as "Other Bastards Efforts". The modern Australian equivalent is an award in the Order of Australia.
OC Officer Commanding - a Company sized unit or subunit
OIC Officer in Charge - Generally in respect of an administrative unit
OTB Overseas Training Battalion
Oz Ounces weight (28.35gm)
~ P ~
Pnr, Pnrs, PNR Pioneer or Pioneers; Assault Pioneer - latterly, the soldiers acting as engineers within a Battalion, but as a unit, engineers more often associated with offensive action such as minelaying
PO Petty Officer (Naval Bridging Train only); Petty Officer (Navy)
POW Prisoner of War
PREV Previously
PS Penal Servitude
Pte, PTE Private - base rank in the Army
PUO Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin. Also known as 'Trench Fever'
~ Q ~
QM Quartermaster - normally a Captain in a Battalion
QMS Quartermaster Sergeant - normally a Staff Sergeant within a Company. See also CQMS, RQMS
~ R ~
RAA Royal Australian Artillery
RAE Royal Australian Engineers
RAN Royal Australian Navy
RANBT Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train
RANR Royal Australian Navy Reserve
RAS Usually, RAS Medal = Returned from Active Service Medal
RBAA Reserve Brigade Australia Artillery
REC 1. Recruit - soldier undergoing basic training after enlistment; 2. Records: unit, personnel, medical, financial etc
Regt Regiment
RFTS Reinforcements
RMT Unit Remount Unit
RN Royal Navy
RNR Royal Navy Reserve
RPM Rounds per Minute
RQMS Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant - normally a WO2 or WO1 in a battalion or similar sized unit.
RRD Regional Recruitment Division/Department; Return Routing Document; Radar Range Development; Radio Research Detachment; Raw Radar Data; Reactor Radiation Division; Recurrence Rate Data; Reduced Resolution Data; Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment; Regional Readiness Data; Regular Retirement Date; Reliability Requirements Database; Removal - Replacement Data; Replacement Regulating Detachment; Required Reply Date; Research Reactors Division
RSD Railhead Supply Detachment
RSM Regimental Sergeant Major
RTA Return to Australia
RTD Returned to Duty
RTE Returned to England
~ S ~
S/A Served As
SAN Sect Sanitation Section
SB Siege Battery
SDN, SQN Squadron - Cavalry/Light Horse and later, Armoured Corps equivalent of a Company
SECT Section - A squad of 8-12 men commanded by a Corporal, where there are three or four sections to a Platoon
SGH Stationary General Hospital
Sgt Sergeant; Sjt (q.v.) or Sergent - Second in command of a Platoon
SIG Signals, Signaller - equivalent to Private
SIW Self Inflicted Wound
Sjt Serjeant (variant of Sergeant)
SMG Sub-machine gun - Hand-held, magazine-fed weapon capable of firing bursts of multiple rounds as long as the trigger is pressed. (See also LMG, MG)
SMLE Small Magazine Lee Enfield .303in Rifle 1910-1960
SNLR Services No Longer Required - generally applied to soldiers whose disciplinary lapses made them an administrative liability
Spr Sapper - Engineer rank equivalent to Private
Sqn, SDN Squadron - Cavalry/Light Horse and later, Armoured Corps equivalent of a Company
SS 1. Shell Shock - Now identified as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder spectrum; 2. Steam Ship
S/Smith or SS Shoeing Smith
SSGT, S/SGT Staff Sergeant - Occasionally seen as Colour Sergeant, second highest ranking NCO in a company, generally the QMS
Sth South
STS Sea Transport Staff
SW Shrapnel Wound - from a bomb, mortar or high explosive artillery shell
~ T ~
T/ Temporary - e.g. T/Corporal
TB Tuberculosis
TMBty Trench Mortar Battery
TOS Taken on Strength ~ The point at which a member officially joined a unit for the purposes of discipline, rations, accommodation, equipment etc. Under some circumstance, members of other units were taken on strength for the purposes of rationing and accommodation only.
Tp Troop
Tpr Trooper ~ Cavalry, Light Horse and later Armoured Corps and Special Air Service equivalent to Private
Tps Troops
Trg Training
TS Transport Ship, Troop Ship
Tun Coy Tunneling Company
~ V ~
VAD Ventricular Aorta Dysfunction
VC Victoria Cross, highest decoration for bravery; Level one award for gallantry, all ranks. The modern Australian equivalent is the Victoria Cross for Australia (VC).
VD 1. Volunteer Decoration; 2. Venereal Disease
VDC Volunteer Defence Corps
Vet Veterinary
Vet Sect Veterinary Section
~ W ~
Whr Wheeler
WIA Wounded in Action
WO or W-O Warrant Officer, Warrant Office or Wireless Operator
WO1 Warrant Officer Class 1 - Regimental Sergeant Major or equivalent in other units/trades - the highest non-commissioned rank within a Battalion
WO2 Warrant Officer Class 2 - Company Sergeant Major or equivalent in other units/trade
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CMTO Corps Mechanical Transport Officer
CP Commonwealth Pattern
CRE Commander, Royal Engineeers
CRS Commonwealth Records Series
CTC Camel Transport Corps
cwt Hundredweight
d Pence
DCM Distinguished Conduct Medal
DesCol Desert Column
DesCorps Desert Mounted Corps
DGT Director General of Transport
DMS Director of Medical Services
DOD Department of Defence
DSC Division Supply Column
DSO Distinguished Service Order
DTMO Division Trench Mortar Officer
DMTS Director of Mechanical Transport Services
DUS Depot Unit of Supply
Dvr Driver
EEF Egyptian Expeditionary Force
E-in-C Engineer in Chief
Engr Engineer
FAB Field Artillery Brigade
FOO Forward Observation Officer
ft Feet
g grams
GG Governor General
GOC General Officer Commanding
GOCRA General Officer Commanding Royal Artillery
GSR General Service Reinforcements
Gnr Gunner
HAG Heavy Artillery Group
HE High Explosive
HF High Frequency
HM His Majesty
HMAHS His Majesty's Australian Hospital Ship
HMAS His Majesty's Australian Ship
HMAT His Majesty's Australian Transport
How Howitzer
in Inches
kg Kilograms
kph Kilometres per hour
lb Pounds
L/Cpl Lance Corporal
LF Low Frequency
LG Lieutenant General
LGO Lewis Gun Officer
LH Light Horse
LHR Light Horse Regiment
LROC Light Railway Operating Company
LTM Light Trench Mortar
m metres
Maj Major
MC Military Cross
MEF Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
MG Machine Gun or Major General
MM Military Medal
MOD Minister of Defence
MT Mechanical Transport
MTM Medium Trench Mortar
MVS Mobile Veterinary Section
NYD Not Yet Determined
NYDN Not Yet Diagnosed Nervous [Shellshock]
OC Officer Commanding
OP Observation Post
oz Ounces
Pnr Pioneer
psc Passed Staff College
QF Quick Firing
QM Quartermaster
QMG Quartermaster General
RA Royal Artillery
RAE Royal Australian Engineers
RAF Royal Air Force
RAFA Royal Australian Field Artillery
RAGA Royal Australian Garrison Artillery
RAN Royal Australian Navy
RANBT Royal Austrlalian Navy Bridging Train
RBAA Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery
RE Royal Engineers
RFA Royal Field Artillery
RFC Royal Flying Corps
Rft Reinforcement
RGA Royal Garrison Artillery
RHA Royal Horse Artillery
Rmt Remount
RN Royal Navy
rpg rounds per gun
rpm rounds per minute
RSD Railhead Supply Detachment
s shillings
San Sanitary
SB Siege Battery
SC Staff Captain
Sgt Staff Sergeant
SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield
SMTO Senior Mechanical Transport Officer
SOD Secretary of Defence
SSC Secretary of State for Colonies (UK)
st stone
STS Sea Transport Staff
S/Sgt Staff Sergeant
SW Shrapnel Wound
t Tonnes
Tun Tunnelling
US United States of America
---------------------------------------------------------------
A Acting or Assistant
AA&QMG Assistant Adjutant & Quartermaster-General
AACU Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit
AAF Allied Air Forces
AAG Assistant Adjutant-General
AALU Australian Air Liaison Unit
AAMC Australian Army Medical Corps
AAMWS Australian Army Medical Women's Service
AANS Australian Army Nursing Service
AAOC Australian Army Ordnance Corps
AAU Air Ambulance Unit
AC Aircraftman
ACF Australian Comforts Fund
ACH Area Combined Headquarters
ACSEA Air Command, South-East Asia
Act Acting
ACW Aircraftwoman
ADHQ Air Defence Headquarters
Adm Admiral
Admin Administration
ADMS Assistant Director Medical Services
ADOS Assistant Director Ordnance Services
ADST Assistant Director of Supply and Transport
ADS&T Assistant Director of Stores and Transport
Adv Advanced
AEME Australiam Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
AFC Australian Flying Corps or Air Force Cross
AFTU Air Fighter Training Unit
AHQ Air Headquarters
AIB Allied Intelligence Bureau
Air Cmdre Air Commodore
AIS Aviation Instructional Staff
ALO Air Liaison Officer
AMOE Air Member for Organisation and Equipment
AMP Air Member for Personnel
AMS Air Member for Supply
AN&MEF Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force
ANGAU Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit
ANS Air Navigation School
AOB Advanced Operational Base
AOC Air Officer Commanding
AOC-in-C Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief
AOP Air Observation Post
AOS Air Observers' School
APD Destroyer-transport
AQMG Assistant Quartermaster General
ARC Aircrew Reception Centre
ARD Aircraft Repair Depot or Aircraft Receiving Depot
Armd Armoured
Arty Artillery
ASR Air-Sea Rescue Flight
ASRF Air-Sea Rescue Flight
Asst Assistant
A-Tk Anti-tank
ATC Air Training Corps
AVG American Volunteer Group
AVM Air Vice-Marshall
AWAS Australian Women's Army Service
BAGS Bombing and Air Gunnery School
Bataan Codeword for Lennons Hotel in Brisbane
BBCAU British Borneo Civil Affairs Unit
BEF British Expeditionary Force
BGGS Brigadier-General, General Staff
BGS Brigadier, General Staff
BM Brigade Major
CA (AA) Coast Artillery (Anti-aircraft)
CAC Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
CAF Citizen Air Force
CAS Chief of Air Staff
CASC Commander, Army Service Corps
CATF China Air Task Force
Cav Cavalry
CCRA Commander, Corps Royal Artillery
CCS Combined Chiefs of Staff
Cd Command
CDH Combined Defence Headquarters
Cdo Commando
Cdr Commander
CE Chief Engineer
CEO Chief Equipment Officer
CFI Chief Flying Instructor
CFS Central Flying School
CGI Chief Ground Instructor or Chief Gunnery Instructor
CI Chief Instructor
CNS Chief of the Naval Staff
CO Commanding Officer
COC Commander of Command
COIC Combined Operations and Intelligence Centre
Col Colonel or Column
Col GS Colonel, General Staff
COMAIRSOLS Command Air Solomons
COMAIRSOPAC Commander Aircraft South Pacific
Comd Commanded, Command or Commander
Comdt Commandant
COMGENSOPAC Commanding General, South Pacific
Commn Communication
CRA Commander, Royal Artillery (of a division)
CRE Commander, Royal Engineers (of a Division)
CS Chief of Staff
CSO Chief Signals Officer
CTF Commander. Task Force
CU Communications Unit
CWR Central War Room
DAOC Deputy Air Officer Commanding
DAOC-in-C Deputy Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief
DAPM Deputy Assistant Provost Marshall
DAQMG Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General
DCAS Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
DCGS Deputy Chief of General Staff
DDME Deputy Director Mechanical Engineering
DDMT Deputy Director Military Training
DDST Deputy Director Supply and Transport
DF Direction Finding
DFC Distinguished Flying Cross
DGMS Director-General Medical Services
DGSP Director-General of Supply and Production
DMS Director Medical Services
DWB Director of Works and Buildings
EATS Empire Air Training Scheme
EBSR Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment
Ech Echelon
ECHO Shipping Designator for freight to Base Section 7, Sydney, N.S.W.
ED Embarkation Depot
EFTS Elementary Flying Training School
Engrs Engineers
EO Equipment Officer or Engineer Officer
Eqpt Equipment
ESB Engineer Special Brigade
ETO European Theatre of Operation
FA Field Artillery
FAA Fleet Air Arm
FBRD Flying-boat Repair Depot
FDL Forward Defended Locality
FEAF Far East Air Forces
FELO Far Eastern Liaison Office
F-Lt Flight Lieutenant
F-O Flying Officer
FOO Forward Observation Officer
FPO Fleet Post Office
FS Fighter Sector
F-Sgt Flight Sergeant
FSHQ Fighter Sector Headquarters
FTS Flying Training School
GCC Ground Control Centre
Gnr Gunner
GOC General Officer Commanding
Gp Group
Gp Capt Group Captain
GR General Reconnaissance
GRS General Reconnaissance School
GSO General Staff Officer
GSO1 General Staff Officer, Grade 1
HBG Heavy Bombardment Group
HE High Explosive
i/c In command
IG Inspector-General
ILO Intelligence Liaison Officer
Indep Independent
Inf Infantry
Inf Bde Infantry Brigade
Instr Instructor
Int Intelligence
Intell Intelligence
IO Intelligence Officer
ITS Initial Training School
LAA Light Anti-aircraft
LAC Leading Aircraftman
LASU Local Air Supply Unit
LCI Landing Craft, Infantry
LCM Landing Craft, Mechanised
L-Cpl Lance-Corporal
LCT Landing Craft, Tank
LCV Landing Craft, Vehicle
LCVP Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel
LEFT Shipping Designator for Freight to Base Section 3, Brisbane, Queensland
LHQ Land Headquarters or Allied Land Forces Headquarters
LO Liaison Office or Liaison Officer
LRPG Long-Range Penetration Group
LSO Legal Staff Officer
Lt Cdr Lieutenant-Commander
Lt-Col Lieutenant-Colonel
Lt-Gen Lieutenant-General
Maj-Gen Major-General
MD Military District
ME Middle East
MFCU Mobile Fighter Control Unit
MG Machine-Gun
MGRA Major-General, Royal Artillery
MMG Medium Machine-gun
Mtn Mountain
MU Maintenance Unit
MAZE Shipping Designator for Freight to Base Section 4, Melbourne, Victoria
NAOU North Australia Observer Unit or Nackeroos
NCO Non-Commissioned Officer
NEFIS Netherlands East Indies Forces Intelligence Forces
NEI Netherlands East Indies
NEI-AF Netherlands East Indies Air Force
NG New Guinea
NGAWW Sigs New Guinea Air Air Wireless Warning Signals
NGF New Guinea Force
NGIB New Guinea Infantry Battalion
NGVR New Guinea Volunteer Rifles
Norforce Northern Territory Force or NT Force
NT Northern Territory
NT Force Northern Territory Force or Norforce
OB Operationa Base
OBU Operational Base Unit
OC Officer Commanding
Offr Officer
OHQ Overseas Headquarters
OP Observation Post
Ops Operations
Orgn Organisation
OSMG Owen sub-machine-gun
OTU Operational Training Unit
PAA Pan American Airways
PDRC Personnel Dispatch and Reception Centre
PIB Papuan Infantry Battalion
Pk Park
Pnr Pioneer
P-O Pilot Officer
POW Prisoners of War
PRC Personnel Reception Centre
PRO Public Relations Officer
PRU Photographic Reconnaissance Unit
PT Patrol Torpedo (boat)
PTE Private
QANTAS Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services
RAA Royal Australian Artillery
RAAF Royal Australian Air Force
RAE Royal Australian Engineers
RAF Royal Air Force
RAN Royal Australian Navy
RANVR Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve
RAR Royal Australian Regiment
RDF Radio or Radar Direction Finding
RE Royal Engineers
Recce Reconnaissance
RFA Royal Field Artillery
RFC Royal Flying Corps
RIAF Royal Indian Air Force
RMO Regimental Medical Officer
RNAS Royal Navy Air Service
RNZAF Royal New Zealand Air Force
RSM Regimental Sergeant Major
RSU Repair and Salvage Unit
R/T or R-T Radio Telephony - voice transmissions
SAO Senior Administrative Officer
SAP Semi armour-piercing
SASO Senior Air Staff Officer
SEA South-East Asia
Sec Section or Secretary
SFTS Service Flying Training School
Sgt Sergeant
SHAEF Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force
SHQ Station Headquarters
Sig Signalman
SISO Senior Intelligence Staff Officer
SMSO Senior Maintenance Staff Officer
SNLF Special Naval Landing Force (Japanese)
SNO Senior Naval Officer
SO Staff Officer
SOPAC South Pacific (Command)
SORE Staff Officer, Royal Engineers
Spr Sapper
SPSO Senior Personnel Staff Officer
SPTF Seaplane Training Flight
Sqn Squadron
S-Sgt Staff-Sergeant
SSO Signals Security Officer
SSOA Senior Staff Officer Administration
Stn Station
SWPA South West Pacific Area
Tac-R Tactical Reconnaissance
TAF Tactical Air Force
Tk Tank
TMU Torpedo Maintenance Unit
TNG Territory of New Guinea
TSMG Thompson Sub-machine-gun
UK United Kingdom
US United States
USAAC United States Army Air Corps
USAAF United States Army Air Force
USAFFE United States Army Forces in the Far East
USAFIA United States Army Forces in Australia
USASOS United States Army Services of Supply
USN United States Navy
WAGS Wireless Air Gunners School
W Cdr Wing Commander
WMU Works Maintenance Unit
WO1 Warrant-Officer, Class 1
WOD Warrant Officer Disciplinary
W-T or W/T Wireless Telegraphy (coded messages by morse code) or Wireless Telegraphist
WTU Works Training Unit
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(A) Army
(N) Navy
(AF) Air Force
(M) Marines
(W) Weapons
(WW2) World War 2
(GW) Great War
(KW)Korean War
(FW)Falklands War
(GuW) Gulf War
(CW) Cold War
2IC Second in Command
AAA Anti Aircraft Artillery
AACU Army Air Co-Operation Unit
Ack-Ack/AAM Air to Air Missile (Air Force/Navy)
AAPIU Army Air Photographic Interpretation Unit
AASF Advanced Air Striking Force (AF)
Abwehr German intelligence and counterespionage service under Admiral Canaris (WW2)
ACAS Assistant Chief of Air Staff (I=Intelligence; P=Policy;O=Operations)
Accn Accommodation (A)
ACE Allied Command Europe (CW)
ACM Air Chief Marshal (A)
ACV Armoured Command Vehicle (A)
AD Air Defence/Air Dispatch/Army Department
ADC Aide-de-Camp
ADGB Air Defence of Great Britain (AF)
ADI(K) Assistant Director Intelligence (POWs)(WW2)
ADI(Ph) Assistant Director Intelligence (Photographic)(WW2)
ADI(Sc) Assistant Director Intelligence (Science)(WW2)
ADIC Assistant Director Operational Intelligence Centre (Admiralty) (WW2)
Adjt Adjutant (A)
ADNI(PW) Assistant Director Naval intelligence (POWs)
ADP Automatic Data Processing
AF Japanese code designation for Midway island
AFC Air Force Cross (A)
AFCENT Allied Forces Central European Theatre (CW)
AFHQ Allied Force Headquarters
AFO Air Force Committee (A)
AFOSC Allied Force (Official) Sub-Committee (A)
A-Force Deception arm of London Control Station in the Middle East and Mediterranean (WW2)
AFV Armoured Fighting Vehicle (A)
AG Air Gunner (AF)
AI Air Intelligence; Air Interception (radar type)
AIFV Allied Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Air Cdre Air Commodore
Aldis lamp Hand-held signal lamp used for flashing messages to ships and aircraft
AM Air Marshal
AMF(L) Allied Mobile Force (Land Element) (A/CW)
AMP Allied Member for Personnel
AMPC Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps
AMSO Air Member for Supply and Organization
AMT Air Member for Training
Amt Mil German intelligence-gathering service under General Schellenburg (WW2)
AOC Air Officer Commanding
AOCiC Air Officer Commander in Chief (AF)
AP Armour Piercing/Ammunition Point/Air Publication
APC Armoured Personnel Carrier (A)
APDS Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot (A)
APO Army Post Office (A)
APS Axis Planning Section (WW2)
ARRC Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (CW)
arty Artillery
ARV Armoured Recovery Vehicle (A)
A/S Anti-Submarine
Asdic Early Anti-submarine apparatus, forerunner of Sonar
ASI Air Scientific Intelligence (WW2)
ASV Air to Surface Vessel Radar
ATA Air Transport Auxiliary (AF)
ATAF Allied Tactical Air Force (WW2 & CW)
ATB Advisory Committee on Trade Question in Time of War (WW2)
ATGW Anti-Tank Guided Weapon (A)
ATS Auxiliary Territorial Service (A)
ATWM Air Transition to War Measure (A)
AVLB Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge (A)
AVM Air Vice-Marshal
BAFF British Air Forces in France (WW2)
BAOR British Army of the Rhine (A)
BATDU Blind Approach Training and Development Unit
BC Battery Commander (A)
BEF British Expeditionary Force (GW/WW2)
BFG British Forces Germany (CW)
BFPO British Forces Post Office (BFPO)
BG Battle Group (A)
BGHQ Battlegroup Headquarters (A)
BGS Brigadier General Staff (A)
BJSM British Joint Services Mission(Washington)(WW2)
BK Battery Captain (A)
BMH British Military Hospital
BMM British Military Mission (Moscow)(WW2)
BMR British Military Representative
BNLO British Naval Liaison Officer(WW2)
BOAC British Overseas Airways Corportation
BRSC British Rear Support Command (A)
BSC British Security Co-ordination (New York)(WW2)
'C' Also CSS; Head of The Secret Service
C3 Command, Control & Communications
C3I Command, Control, Communications & Intelligence
CAIO Chief Air Intelligence Officer, Algiers (WW2)
CB Confined to Barracks
CBME Combined Bureau Middle East (WW2)
CAD Central Ammunition Depot (A)
cam Camouflaged
CAP Combat Air Patrol (AF/N)
CAS Chief of the Air Staff
cas Casualty
CASEVAC Casualty Evacuation
cat Catering
CB Confined to Barracks
CBME Combined Bureau Middle East
CCM Counter Counter Measure
CCP Casualty Collection Point
CCS Casualty Collection Service/Combined Chief of Staff (Anglo-US)(WW2)
CEP Circular Error Probable/Central Engineer Park (A)
CEPS Central European Pipeline System (CW)
CET Combat Engineer Tractor (A)
CFS Central Flying School (AF)
CIC Combined Intelligence Committee (WW2)
CID Committee of Imperial Defence (WW2)
CIGS Chief of Imperial General Staff
CIU Central Interpretation Unit (WW2)
civ Civilian
CNO Chief of Naval operations (US)
CNS Chief of Naval Staff (First Sea Lord)
CO Commanding Officer
COE Corps of engineers (US Army)
COHQ Combined Operations Headquarters
COMCEN Communications Centre
comd Command/Commander
comp rat Composite Rations (Compo)
coord Co-ordinate
COS Chief(s) of Staff
coy Company
CP Close Protection/Command Post
CPO Command Pay Officer/Chief Petty officer (A/N)
CQMS Company Quartermaster Sergeant (A)
CSDIC Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre (WW2)
CSM Committee of Special means (SHAEF cover and deception unit linked with the LCS) (WW2)
CSS Chief of the Secret Service; See also 'C' (WW2)
c sups Combat Supplies
CV Combat Vehicles (A)
CVD Central Vehicle Depot (A)
CVR(T) or (W) Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance Tracked or Wheeled (A)
CW Chemical Warfare
CWS Chemical Warfare Service (US Army)
Cyclic The rate at which the weapon fires automatically
D of M Director of Manning
D of O Director of Organisation
D of O(I) Director of Operations (Intelligence)s
D of P Director of Postings
D of Plans Director of Plans
DAA Divisional Administrative Area (A)
DAAC Director(ate) of Allied Air Cooperation (AF)
DAFL Director(ate) of Allied Air Cooperation and Foreign Liaison (AF)
DAK Deutsches Afrika Korps (WW2)
Dazzle Painting Disruptive colours and pattern used on ships during war to create course distortions
DC Defence Corps
DCAS Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (AF)
DCM Ministerial Committee on Disarmament (WW2)
DCNS Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (WW2)
DD(C) Deputy Director (Civil)(at GC and CS)(WW2)
DD(Ph) Deputy Director (Photography) (Air Ministry) (WW2)
DD(S) Deputy Director (Services)(at GC and CS)(WW2)
DDI Deputy Director of Intelligence (Air Staff)(WW2)
DDIC Deputy Director of Operational intelligence Centre (Admiralty)(WW2)
DDMi Deputy Director of Military Intelligence (WW2)
DDMI(I) Deputy Director Operational Intelligence Centre (Admiralty) (WW2)
DDMI(O) Deputy Director Operational Intelligence Centre (Intelligence) (WW2)
DDMI(PW) Deputy Director Military Intelligence (POW)(WW2)
DDMI(Y) Deputy Director Military Intelligence (Y Service)
DDMO and I Deputy Director Operational of Military Operations and Intelligence
DDNI Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence (WW2)
decoy Fake object or installation deliberately displayed as a target to draw enemy fire
def Defence
DERA Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
det detached
DF Defensive Fire/Direction Finding
DFC Distinguished Flying Cross (AF)
DGO Director General of Organisation
Dicing Descriptive term for highly dangerous, low-level air reconnaissance missions
DI Daily Inspection
DISTAFF Directing Staff (DS) (A)
DMA Divisional Maintenance Area (A)
DMDW Department of Miscellaneous Weapon Development
DMI Director of Military Intelligence (WW2)
dml Demolition
DMO and I Director of Military Operations and Intelligence (WW2)
DNI Director of Naval Intelligence (WW2)
DPR Ministerial Committee on Defence Policy and Requirements (WW2)
DPS Director of Personal Services
DRC Defence Requirements Sub-Committee (of the CID)
Drone Small pilotless aircraft operated by remote-control radio, used in long-range reconnaissance
DS Direct Support/Dressing Station
DSD Director Signals Division (Admiralty) WW2)
DSO Distinguished Service Order
DTG Date Time Group
Dummy Fake object or installation displayed partly as a target, but chiefly to mislead the enemy and create a false impression.
DWI Directional Wireless Installation
ECCM Electronic Counter-Counter Measure
ech Echelon
ECM Electronic Counter Measure
EDP Emergency Defence Plan
emb Embarkation
EME Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
EMP Electro Magnetic Pulse
en Enemy
engr Engineer
ENSA Entertainments for the Services Association
EOD Explosive Ordnance Disposal (A)
EP Economic Pressure Sub-Committee (of the ATB Committee)
eqpt Equipment
ERPC
Expansion and Re-equipment Policy Committee
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
ETOUSA European Theatre of Operation US Army (WW2)
EW Early Warning/Electronic Warfare
EWI Economic Warfare Intelligence (WW2)
ex Exercise
F Fighter
FAC Forward Air Controller
FCI Industrial Intelligence in Foreign Countries Sub-Committee (of the CID)
FEBA Forward Edge of Battle Area (A)
Feldgrau official designation for the colour of the German Army uniforms
FGA Fighter Ground Attack (AF)
FIDO Fog Investigation and Dispersal Organisation
Fist Colloquial term for the distinctive touch and message style of a wireless radio operator (WW2)
Flat-top A camouflage net stretched flat and horizontal over an object to be concealed (A)/ An Aircraft carrier (N)
FLET Forward Location Enemy Troops (A)
Fliegerhauptmann official rank or title; just - very - colloquial in order to distinguish a captain in a flying unit of the German Air Force from, for instance, a "Flakhauptmann", serving in an AA unit. The official rank designation for both was just "Hauptmann" (plural "Hauptleute") and they would be adressed "Herr Hauptmann" by subordinates (= "Captain, Sir") - or "Hauptmann + name" by superiors (just as in the Army). That they were serving in the Air Force was implicated by their bluegrey uniform (the Army had "feldgrau") and the according branch was indicated by the colour of their collar patches (flyers and paratroopers yellow, Flak red). In the Army however, there was the special and official rank of "Rittmeister" for Captains serving in cavalry units. In 1939, most of the remaining cavalry regiments were disbanded and formed recce groups for infantry divisions. Captains commanding squadrons in these recce groups or squadrons in the cavalry regiments of 1. Kavallerie-Brigade (later 1. Kavallerie-Division, later still 24. Panzer-Division) retained the rank of "Rittmeister", as well as those seconded from cavalry regiments to other units. Captains as company commanders of motorized or armoured recce groups, or of tank regiments were called "Hauptmann" as in every other arm or branch of the Army.
FLOT Forward Location Own Troops (A)
fmn formation
FO Foreign office
FOES Future Operations (Enemy) Section (WW2)
fol Follow
FOO Forward Observation Officer (A)
Fremde Heere West (FHW) German intelligence-gathering service on the Western front, under Colonel von Roenne (WW2)
Freya Type of field radar unit used extensively by the Wehrmacht (A)
FTS Flying Training School (AF)
FUP Forming Up Point (A)
FUSAG First US Army group, a largely fictitious organization used in pre D-Day Fortitude deceptions
G-1 Personnel and Administration (US Army General Staff)
G-2 Intelligence activities (US Army General Staff)
G-3 Operations and training (US Army General Staff)
G-4 Supply and maintenance (US Army General Staff)
GAF German Air Force (WW2)
GC and CS Government Code and Cypher School (WW2)
GCI Ground controlled Interception, used in directing aircraft towards targets
GDB General Duties Branch
GDP General Defence Plan (A)
GI American Serviceman
GL Gun laying (radar type)
GPMG General Purpose Machine Gun (W)
GOC General Officer Commanding (A)
GP General Purpose (bomb type)
GR General Reconnaissance
GRU General Reconnaissance Unit
GS Int General Staff Intelligence (WW2)
HAC Honorable Artillery Company (A)
HDU Home Defence Units (WW2)
hel Helicopter
HE High Explosive
HEAT High Explosive Anti-Tank
HESH High Explosive Squash head
HFU Home Ferry Unit
HO Home Office Huff duff Colloquial term for high-frequency radio direction-finding techniques
HVM Hyper Velocity Missile Hy Heavy
IAF Italian Air Force (WW2)
ICBM Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
IFF Identification Friend or Foe II Image Intensifier
IIC Industrial Intelligence Centre (WW2)
illum Illuminating (A)
INTSUM Intelligence Summary (A)
IO Intelligence Officer (A)
IRG Immediate Replenishment Group (A)
IS Internal Security
IS (O) Intelligence Section (Operations)
ISD In Service Date
ISIC Inter-Service Intelligence Committee (WW2)
ISSB Inter-Service Security Board (WW2)
ISTD Inter-Services Topographical Department
IW Individual Weapon (W); See SA80
JFHQ Joint Force Headquarters
JHQ Joint Headquarters
JIC Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee (of the COS) (WW2)
JIS Joint Intelligence Staff (WW2)
JPS Joint Planning Staff (of the COS) (WW2)
JSSU Joint Services Signals Unit
Junker this word designated in Germany and especially in Prussia the same social class as in UK the word "squire": nobility or landed gentry - politically mostly conservative with definite agrarian interests or even reactionary. In the German Army and Air Force, "Junker" was an abbreviation for "Fahnenjunker", before the 2nd WW designating a career officer candidate.
K-sites Decoy airfields created by the British to draw off Luftwaffe raiders (WW2) Knickebein German Codename for radio-directional beams used by Luftwaffe bombers
LAC Leading Aircraftman (AF)
LAD Light Aid Detachment (REME) (A)
LCS London Control Section (WW2)
LCT Landing Craft Tank Lighter Harbor vessel chiefly used for carrying and unloading cargoes from ship to shore.
LLAD Low Level Air Defence
LO Liaison Officer Loc Locating log Logistic
LRATGW Long Range Anti-Tank Guided Weapon
LRC London Reception Centre
LRDG Long Range Desert Group (WW2)
LSW Light Support Weapon (W); See LSW Luftflotten German air fleets, or squadrons
Luftwaffe German Air Force
MAC Mediterranean Air Command (AF)
Mae West A life jacket, often employed by sailors and airmen.
maint Maintain
MAOT Mobile Air Operations Team
MAP Ministry of Aircraft Production
MARU ?
mat Material
MBT Main Battle Tank
MC Military Cross
mech Mechanised
med medical
medevac Medical Evacuation
MEIC Middle East Intelligence Centre (WW2)
Meillerwagen the industrial company "Meiller", in general, produced flatbed road trailers for heavy cargoes - for instance for trailing railway cars across roads or for transport and recovery of tanks. The trailers for V2 rockets were only special adaptations of a general construction principle.
(WW2) MEW Ministry of Economic Warfare (WW2)
M/F Medium Frequency
MFC Mortar Fire Controller
MGGS Major-General General Staff
MI Military Intelligence
MI5 Military Intelligence; Counter espionage and security service
MI6 Military Intelligence (SIS); Covert Operations
MIRS Military Intelligence Research Section
MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System
MONAB Mobile Naval Air Base
MNAD Multi National Airmobile Division
mob Mobilisation
MOD Ministry of Defence Moonshine Apparatus designed by the Allies to simulate ships and aircraft on enemy radars
MovO Movement Order
MP Military Police / Member of Parliament
MRAF Marshal of the Royal Air Force
msl Missile
MT Mechanical Transport
MU Maintenance Unit
MV Military Vigilance
NAAFI Navy, Army and Air Force Institute
NADGE NATO Air Defence Ground Environment
NAIU North African Interpretation Unit
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NBC Nuclear, Biological and Chemical
NCO Non-Commissioned Officer
NCXF Naval Commander Expeditionary Force (Operation Torch)(WW2)
nec Necessary
ni Night
NID Naval Intelligence Department
NOK Next of Kin
NORTHAG Northern Army Group
NTR Nothing to Report
NWATAF North West Africa Tactical Air Force (WW2)
NYK Not Yet Known
Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) The German Military High Command
OC Officer Commanding
OCE Office of the Chief of Engineers (US Army)
OCI Office of the Co-ordination of Information (US)
OCU Operational Conversion Unit (AF)
OD Other Denominations
OIC Officer in Charge/Operational Intelligence Centre (Admiralty) (WW2)
OKH Oberkommando des Heeres (High Command of the German Army) (WW2)
OKL Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (High Command of The Luftwaffe) (WW2)
OKM Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine (High Command of The German Navy) (WW2)
OKW Oberkommando des Wehrmacht (High Command of the German Armed Forces) (WW2)
OMH Office of Military History, Washington DC ONI Office of Naval Intelligence (US)
OP Observation Post
op Operation Order
Ops Operations
ORB Operational Record Book (AF)
ORBAT Order of Battle
Osnaburg Dyed cotton canvas strips used for weaving into camouflage nets
OSS Office of Strategic Services (US)
OTU Operational Training Unit (AF)
PAC Parachute And Cable defence
PAIC Persia and Iraq Command
pax Passengers
PBX RAF Telephone Exchange (Private Branch Exchange)
PDU Photographic Development Unit (WW2)
PI Photographic Intelligences
PIAT Projectile, Infantry Anti-Tank (A)
PIU Photographic Interpretation Unit
P info Public Information
PJHQ Permanent Joint Head Quarters
Pl Platoon
PLUTO Pipe Line Under The Ocean (WW2)
PM Prime Minister
POL Petrol, Oil and Lubricants
POTU Polish Operational Training Unit
POW Prisoner of War
PPI Position Plan Indicator (Radar)
PR Photographic Reconnaissance
PRU Photographic Reconnaissance Unit
PWE Political Warfare Executive (WW2)
PWIS (Home) Prisoners of War Interrogation Service (WW2)
Pzkw Panzerkampfwagen
Q lights Decoy lightning patterns used in various Allied deceptions
QM Quartermaster RAAF Royal Australian Air Force (AF)
RAE Royal Aircraft Establishment RAF Royal Air Force (AF)
RAFVR Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (AF)
RAN Royal Australian Navy
RAP Rocket Assisted Projectile/Regimental Air Post
RATOG Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear
RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force (AF)
RCN Royal Canadian Navy (N)
RCZ Rear Combat Zone
RDF Radio Direction Finding (Early version of Radar)
rebro Rebroadcast
rec Recovery
R & D Research and Development
recce Reconnaissance
RFC Royal Flying Corps
RFP Radio Finger Printing
rft Reinforcement
RHQ Regimental Headquarters
RJDF Rapid Joint Deployment Force
RM Royal Marines (M)
RMA Rear Maintenance Area/Royal Military Academy (A)
RN Royal Navy
RNAS Royal Naval Air Service
RNAAS Royal Norwegian Army Air Service (AF)
RNNAS Royal Norwegian Naval Air Service (N)
RNZAF Royal New Zealand Air Force (AF)
ROC/OC Royal Observer Corps
RSA Royal School of Artillery (A)
RSME Royal School of Mechanical Engineering (A)
RSS Radio Security Service (WW2)
R/T Radio Telephony
RTM Ready to Move
RTU Return to Units
SACUER Supreme Allied Commander Europe (CW)
SALU Sub-Section of Air Section, GC and CS, specializing of high and low-grade GAF Sigint
SAM Surface to Air Missile (AF)
SAO Senior Air Officer (AF)
SAP Semi-Armour Piercing
SAS Special Air Service (A)
SASO Senior Air Staff Officer (AF)
SATCOM Satellite Communications
SBS Special Boat Section (WW2/A) Special Boat Squadron (postwar/N)
Scrim-net Light, gauzy netting with very fine mesh which can be painted, sometimes used in camouflage deceptions
SCU Special Communications Unit
SD Sicherheitsdienst
SD Special Duties (Plotter)
SEAC South East Asia Command (WW2)
SGO Station Gunnery Officer SH Support Helicopters
SHAEF Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (WW2)
SHAPE Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (CW)
SIB Special Investigation Branch
Sicherheitsdienst (SD) Intelligence and counterespionage branch of the Nazi SS
Sigint Signal Intelligence
SIME Security Intelligence Middle East
SIS Special or Secret Intelligence Service; See MI6S
sit Situation
SITREP Situation Report
SLBM Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (N)
SLC Search Light Control (radar)
SLR Self Loading Rifle (W)
SLU Special Liaison Unit (WW2)
SMG Sub Machine Gun (W)
smk smoke
SNCO Senior Non-Commissioned Officer
SOE Special Operations Executive (WW2)
SOI Staff Officer (Intelligence)
Sonar Anti-Submarine detection apparatus
SP Self Propelled; Start Point; Service Police
Sqn Squadron
SS 1. Schutzstaffel, the military and political arms of the Nazi Party; 2. (British) Special Services
SSAFA Soldiers', Sailors', and Airmens' Families Association
SSM Surface to Surface Missile (W/A/N)
SSVC Services Sound and Vision Corporation
Staffel Luftwaffe air squadrons
Starfish Decoy fish baskets used for deception by English defenders during the Battle of Britain
Stereo viewer Optical device enabling user to produce three-dimensional effects with overlapping photographs
Sunshields Camouflage truck covers, used for hiding British tanks prior to Operation Lightfoot
STOL Short Take Off and Landing
STOVL Short Take Off and Vertical Landing
TA Traffic Analysis
tac Tactical
TCP Traffic Control Point
TCV Troop Carrying Vehicle
tgt target
TINA Study of morse characteristics of individual wireless operators (WW2)
tk Tank
TLB Top Level Budget
TME Telecommunications Middle East
TOT Time on Target
tp Troop
tpt Transport
TRE Telecommunications Research Establishment
TUL Truck Utility Light
TUM Truck Utility Medium
UHF Ultra High frequency radio and electronic communications
UK United Kingdom
UKMF United Kingdom Mobile Force
UNCLASS Unclassified
UP Unrotating Projectile
U/S Unserviceable (broken)
USAAF United States Army Air Force (A/AF)
USAF United States Air Force (AF)
USN United States Navy (N)
UXB Unexploded Bomb
U/S Unserviceable
VC Victoria Cross
VCAS Vice Chief of the Air Staff (AF)
VCIGS Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff (A)
VCNS Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff (N)
VE Victory in Europe
veh Vehicle
Vergeltungswaffen German vengeance or 'reprisal' weapons designed to terrorize Britain and eventually the USA
VHF Very High frequency radio and electronic communications
VJ Victory Over Japan
VOR Vehicle off the Road
VTOL Vertical Take Off and Landing
WAAF Women's Auxiliary Air Force (AF)
WE War Establishment
Wehrmacht = In German there used to be standing phrases like "Schimmernde Wehr" (= "shining armour") or "in Wehr und Waffen" (= something like "armoured and armed", alluding to medieval knights armoured from cap to toe and armed with lance, sword etc.) (Now, they hardly ever used). Thus "Wehr..." rather means the defensive part of an armament (c.f. "Reichswehr" or now "Bundeswehr"), while "Waffen" means the offensive part (perhaps this was the intended implication in "Waffen-SS" or "Luftwaffe" = "Air Arm"). "Wehrmacht" thus would literally translate not as "war power" but as "defence power". The German word for "war" is "Krieg" - as in "Kriegsmarine" (literally = "war navy"; in order to distinguish the fighting navy from the "Handelsmarine" = "merchant fleet").
wh Wheeled
WIDU Wireless Intelligence and Development Unit
WIMP 1. Whinging Incompetent Malingering Person; 2. Window Code name for silver foil dipoles used to jam enemy radar
wksp Workshop
WMR War Maintenance Reserve
W/T Wireless Telegraphy
WVS Women's Voluntary Service
X Crossing (as in roads or rivers)
XX Committee Arm of MI-5 responsible for developing and controlling double agents
Y Signals Interception Service
YMCA Young Men's Christian Association
YWCA Young Women's Christian Association
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Australian Service Records from World War I
Abbreviations used in World War I Service Records
Ranks no longer used
AB/Dvr Able Bodied Driver
AM Aircraft Mechanic
Far Farrier
L/Sgt Lance Sergeant
MT/Dvr Mechanical Transport Driver
PO Petty Officer (Naval Bridging Train only)
S/Smith Shoeing Smith
Whr Wheeler
General abbreviations
AOC Army Ordnance Corps
Arty Artillery
Engrs Engineers
GSW Gun Shot Wound
HMAT His Majesty’s Australian Transport
HQ Headquarters
HS Hospital Ship
HT Hired Transport
Inf Infantry
NYD Not Yet Determined/Diagnosed
Pnrs Pioneers
PUO Pyrexia of Unknown Origin
Sqn Squadron
SW Shrapnel Wound
Tp Troop
---------------------------------------------------------
World War I units
AAH Australian Auxiliary Hospital
AAMC Australian Army Medical Corps
AANS Australian Army Nursing Service
AASC Australian Army Service Corps
ADBD Australian Divisional Base Depot
ADH Australian Dermatological Hospital
AFA Australian Field Artillery
AFC Australian Flying Corps
AGBD Australian General Base Depot
AIBD Australian Infantry Base Depot
AL Rwy Australian Light Railway
AMGBD Australian Machine Gun Base Depot
AMTS Australian Mechanical Transport Service
AN&MEF Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (New Guinea, Rabaul)
ANZAC Cyc Coy/Bn
ANZAC Cyclist Company/Battalion
ANZAC Mtd Reg
ANZAC Mounted Regiment
ASH Australian Stationary Hospital
AVES Australian Veterinary Evacuating Station
BEF British Expeditionary Force (Belgium, France, England)
BGROC Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company
Con Dep Convalescent Depot
Den Cps Dental Corps
DSC Divisional Supply Column
EEF Egyptian Expeditionary Force (Egypt, Sinai, Palestine)
EMM & B Coy Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company
F Amb Field Ambulance
FAB Field Artillery Brigade
FCE Field Company Engineers
GSR General Service Reinforcements
L/M/H TM Bty Light/Medium/Heavy Trench Mortar Battery
LGROC Light Gauge Railway Operating Company
LH Bde Light Horse Brigade
LHFA Light Horse Field Ambulance
LHR Light Horse Regiment
LHRR Light Horse Reserve Regiment
LHTR Light Horse Training Regiment
M Vet Sec Mobile Veterinary Section
MEF Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli)
MG Coy/ Sqn/Bn Machine Gun Company/Squadron/Battalion
RAA Royal Australian Artillery
RAE Royal Australian Engineers
RANBT Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train
RBAA Reserve Brigade Australia Artillery
RMT Unit Remount Unit
RSD Railhead Supply Detachment
SAN Sect Sanitation Section
SB Siege Battery
Sig Tp Signals Troop
STS Sea Transport Staff
Tun Coy Tunnelling Company
Vet Sect Veterinary Section
--------------------------------------------------
Boer War jargon, acronyms and abbreviations
AAMC Australian Army Medical Corps
ACH Australian Commonwealth Horse, designation for the units of the sixth wave of Australian contingents
Afrikaans language used by descendants of Dutch South Africans
AMC Army Medical Corps
AMS Army Medical Service, the same as Army Medical Corps
berg mountain
Boer literally a farmer; descendant of Dutch South Africans living in the Transvaal or Orange Free State
burgher white male citizen of the Transvaal or Orange Free State
bushmen designation for third, fourth and sometimes fifth waves of Australian contingents
bushveldt bush country in the middle Transvaal
CB Companion of the Order of the Bath, a title awarded for distinguished service
CBC Citizen’s Bushmen Contingent, one of the third wave of Australian contingents
CIV City Imperial Volunteers, designation for British infantry contingents to the war
clasp attachment to medal ribbon proclaiming the wearer to have participated in a campaign, battle or skirmish
commandant commanding officer of a Boer commando; commanding officer of the military forces of an Australian colony
commando Boer military unit, usually of a particular district
contingent military unit or units raised and despatched at one time
donga cutting made in the ground by flowing water
dorp village
drift river ford
DSO Distinguished Service Order, decoration for bravery
fontein spring
GOC General Officer Commanding
gratuity extra payment to soldiers returning from the war
HMT Her/His Majesty’s Transport
HQ Headquarters
IBC Imperial Bushmen Contingent, one of the fourth wave of Australian contingents
inspan to harness transport animals in readiness to march
IY Imperial Yeomanry, designation for British mounted contingents to the war
kaffir Boer word for South African blacks
kloof ravine
kop hill
koppie, kopje small hill
kraal cattle enclosure; group of huts; village
laager camp, sometimes formed by circle of ox-wagons
laagte valley
MI mounted infantry, mounted rifles ~ infantry using horses for mobility between battlefields; cavalry fighting with rifles rather than swords
MISA Mounted Infantry South Africa
NCO Non-commissioned officer; a corporal or sergeant
nek pass between two hills
NSWMR New South Wales Mounted Rifles
outspan, uitspan to unharness transport animals and halt a march
patriotic fund non-government charity collecting and dispensing money for wounded soldiers and dependants of dead soldiers
poort gateway; gap between hills
QIB Queensland Imperial Bushmen
QMI Queensland Mounted Infantry
Rand The Witwatersrand in the Transvaal, more particularly its rich gold mines
return list
RFF Rhodesian Field Force
SAMR South Australian Mounted Rifles
SAW South African War
Special Service designation of Australian officers despatched to the war not in command of contingents but to act as staff officers and learn staff and command techniques
TIB Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen
trek Boer word for journey, used to describe military patrols during the Boer War
TSS Turbine Steamship
Uitlander outsider, foreigner
veld, veldt bush country covered in undergrowth and trees
VMF Victorian Military Forces
VMR Victorian Mounted Rifles
Zarp member of the Transvaal’s semi-military police force (Zuid Afrikaansche Republiel Politie)
~ A ~
AAH Australian Auxiliary Hospital
AAMC Australian Army Medical Corps
AANC Australian Army Nursing Corps
AAOC Australian Army Ordnance Corps
AASC Australian Army Service Corps
ADBD Australian Divisional Base Depot
ADH Australian Dematological Hospital
AE Australian Engineers
AE&MM&BC Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company
AFA Australian Field Artllery
AFC Australian Flying Corps
AGBD Australian General Base Depot
AIBD Australian Infantry Base Depot
ALRwy Australian Light Railway
AMGBD Australian Machine Gun Base Depot
AMTS Australian Mechanical Transport Service
AN&MEF Australian Naval and Military Expediationary Force
ANZAC Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
A&QMG Adjutant and Quartermaster General
ASH Australian Staionary Hospital
ASP Ammunition Sub Park
AVH Australian Veterinary Hospital
AWM Australian War Memorial
BAC Brigade Ammunition Column
Bdr Bombardier
BEF British Expeditionary Force
BG Brigadier General
BGGS Brigadier General, General Staff
BGRA Brigadier General, Royal Artillery
BGROC Broad Guage Railway Operating Company
BL Breech Loading
BM Brigade Major
BMHA Brigade Major, Heavy Artillery
BMRA Brigade Major, Royal Artillery
BTE British Troops in Egypt
CB Counterbattery
CBSO Counterbattery Staff Officer
CCS Casualty Clearing Station
CE Chief Engineer
CGS Chief of the General Staff
CIGS Chief of the Imperial General Staff
CMGO Corps Machine Gun Officer
CMTO Corps Mechanical Transport Officer
Col Colonel
CP Commonwealth Pattern
CRA Commander, Royal Artillery
CRE Commander, Royal Engineeers
CRS Commonwealth Records Series
CTC Camel Transport Corps
CTE Corps Troops Engineers
cwt Hundredweight
d Pence
DADOS Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services
DCM Distinguished Conduct Medal
DesCol Desert Column
DesCorps Desert Mounted Corps
DGT Director General of Transport
DMGO Division Machine Gun Officer
DMS Director of Medical Services
DOD Department of Defence
DSC Division Supply Column
DSO Distinguished Service Order
DTMO Division Trench Mortar Officer
DMTS Director of Mechanical Transport Services
DUS Depot Unit of Supply
Dvr Driver
E-in-C Engineer in Chief
Engr Engineer
FAB Field Artillery Brigade
FAmb Field Ambulance
FM Field Marshal
FOO Forward Observation Officer
ft Feet
g grams
Genl General
GG Governor General
GOC General Officer Commanding
GOCRA General Officer Commanding Royal Artillery
GS General Staff
GSO General Staff Officer
GSR General Service Reinforcements
Gnr Gunner
HAG Heavy Artillery Group
HE High Explosive
HF High Frequency
HM His Majesty
HMAHS His Majesty's Australian Hospital Ship
HMAS His Majesty's Australian Ship
HMAT His Majesty's Australian Transport
How Howitzer
HT Horse Transport
HTM Heavy Trench Mortar
in Inches
inf Infantry
kg Kilograms
kph Kilometres per hour
lb Pounds
L/Cpl Lance Corporal
LF Low Frequency
LG Lieutenant General
LGO Lewis Gun Officer
LH Light Horse
LHR Light Horse Regiment
LROC Light Railway Operating Company
LTM Light Trench Mortar
m metres
Maj Major
MC Military Cross
MG Machine Gun or Major General
MGGS Major General, General Staff
MM Military Medal
MOD Minister of Defence
MT Mechanical Transport
MTM Medium Trench Mortar
MVS Mobile Veterinary Section
NYD Not Yet Determined
NYDN Not Yet Diagnosed Nervous [Shellshock]
OC Officer Commanding
OP Observation Post
oz Ounces
~ P ~
psc Passed Staff College
Pte Private
~ Q ~
QF Quick Firing
QM Quartermaster
QMG Quartermaster General
~ R ~
RA Royal Artillery
RAE Royal Australian Engineers
RAF Royal Air Force
RAFA Royal Australian Field Artillery
RAGA Royal Australian Garrison Artillery
RAN Royal Australian Navy
RANBT Royal Austrlalian Navy Bridging Train
RBAA Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery
RE Royal Engineers
RFA Royal Field Artillery
RFC Royal Flying Corps
Rft Reinforcement
RGA Royal Garrison Artillery
RHA Royal Horse Artillery
Rmt Remount
RN Royal Navy
rpg rounds per gun
rpm rounds per minute
RSD Railhead Supply Detachment
~ S ~
s shillings
San Sanitary
SB Siege Battery
SC Staff Captain
SSgt Staff Sergeant
SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield
SMTO Senior Mechanical Transport Officer
SOD Secretary of Defence
Sqn Squadron
SSC Secretary of State for Colonies (UK)
st stone
STS Sea Transport Staff
S/Sgt Staff Sergeant
SW Shrapnel Wound
~ T ~
t Tonnes
Tp Troop
Tun Tunnelling
~ U ~
US United States of America
1.I.T.S. 1 Initial Training School, Somers (Mornington Vic)
1.S.F.T.S. 1 Service Flying Training School, Point Cook,No.2.A.N.S. Nhill Number 2 Air Navigation School, Nhill
1.W.A.G.S. Ballarat 1 Wireless Air Gunners School, Ballarat
1.P.D. (Discharge) 1 Personnel Depot (for Admin Discharge).
EATS Empire Air Training Scheme
EFTS Empire Flying Training Schools
1 EFTS – Parafield SA,
2 EFTS – Archerfield Qld,
3 EFTS – Essendon Vic,
4 EFTS – Mascot NSW,
5 EFTS – Narromine,
6 EFTS – Tamworth NSW,
7 EFTS – Western Junction Tasmania,
8 EFTS – Narrandera,
9 EFTS – Cunderdin WA,
10EFTS – Temora,
11 EFTS – Benalla, Vic, and
12 EFTS – Bundaberg Qld.
No 1 SFTS – Point Cook Vic,
No 2 SFTS - Forrest Hill NSW,
No 3 SFTS – Amberley Qld,
No 4 SFTS – Geraldton WA,
No 5 SFTS – Uranquinty NSW,
No 6 SFTS – Mallala SA,
No 7 SFTS – Deniliquin, NSW and
No 8 SFTS – Bundaberg Qld.
Under the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) it was not just EFTS and SFTS that were established other schools were:
· Air Observers Schools (AOS)· Air Navigation Schools (ANS)
· Bombing and Gunnery Schools (BAGS)
· Initial Training Schools (ITS)
· Wireless Air Gunners School (WAGS)
· Air Gunnery School (AGS)· Central Gunnery School (CGS)
· Armament Training Station (ATS)
· Central Flying School (CFS)
· General Reconnaissance School (GRS)
· Operational Training Units (OTU)
· Operational Conversion Unit (OCU)
Abbreviations in Australian World War 1 Military Records
2LT Second Lieutenant - Commander of a Platoon or equivalent sized unit [See also LT]
2LT Second Lieutenant - Commander of a Platoon or equivalent sized unit [See also LT]
A/ Acting, Assistant e.g. Acting Corporal, Assistant Adjutant
A/A, A-A, AA Anti-Aircraft (Battery, Regiment etc)
ALROC or LROC [Australian] Light Rail Operating Company
ABGROC or BGROC [Australian] Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company
ABDO Abdomen/Abdominal
ADBD Australian Division Base Depot - Numbered in accordance with the Division
AGBD Australian General Base Depot
AIBD Australian Infantry Base Depot
AIEF Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force
AIF Australian Imperial Force
AAH Australian Auxilliary Hospital
AAMC Australian Army Medical Corps
ACC Accident, Accidental
ACH Australian Convalencent Hospital
ADH Australian Dermatological Hospital
ADJ, ADJT Adjutant - Administrative officer in a unit
AGH Australian General Hospital
AM Albert Medal - Imperial Medal for Life Saving, in Gold (1st Class) or Bronze (Second Class), awarded for either Land or Sea and later replaced by the George Cross or George Medal to those still living. The modern Australian equivalent is the Cross of Valour (CV)
AMP Amputated
AMT Coy Australian Motor Transport Company
AN&MEF Australian Navy and Military Expeditionary Force - The volunteer force sent in 1915 to German New Guinea and to seize German property and possessions, destroy German wireless installations and act as an occupying force for the duration of the war.
ANZAC Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
AOC Army Ordnance Corps
AOR At Own Request
ASC Army Service Corps
AVC Army Veterinary Corps
AWL, AWOL Absent Without Leave
BAR Bar - A medal awarded more than once, e.g. two awards of the MC are known as MC and Bar.
BATT, BTN, BN Battalion - An infantry unit of up to four companies and an administrative headquarters, generally commanded by a LT COL
BDR Bombardier - Artillery rank equivalent to Corporal.
BEF British Expeditionary Force
BGROC Broad Gauge Rail Operating Company
BRIG 1. Brigadier or Brigadier-General - The commander of a Brigade or higher formation. 2. Brigade - A formation of 3 or 4 Infantry Battalions with supporting arms and services.
BRIT British
CAPT Captain - Second in command of a company or acting company commander
CB Confined to Barracks - Confinement to Barracks when not in the field was a punishment which permitted soldiers to perform their usual duties during normal work hours, but required them to report every hour, on the hour from 6:00am to start of work, at lunch time and between cessation of work and 10:00pm. It included morning and evening periods of drill on the parade ground and reporting in different forms of dress at different times.
CCS Casualty Clearing Station
CdeG Croix de Guerre - French gallantry award
C in C Commander in Chief - Commander in a theatre of war
CO Commanding Officer - of a battalion or equivalent unit [See also OC]
COMD 1. Commander. 2. Command - Geographical area of military control within Australia
CO, COY Company- Sub-unit of a battalion, commanded by a Major or Captain.
COL Colonel - Senior staff office or Commander of a brigade
CORP, CPL Corporal - Commander of a section of 10 or so soldiers
CPT 1. Captured. 2. Captain
CQMS Company Quartermaster Sergeant - Staff sergeant, second highest ranking NCO in a Company
CSM Company Sergeant Major - Warrant officer class 2, the highest ranking NCO in a company
C'TOWN Capetown, South Africa
CYC BN Cyclist Battalion
DAC Divisional Ammunition Column
DAH Defective Aorta Heart
DCM Distinguished Conduct Medal - Level 2 Imperial award for solders up to the rank of Warrant Officer. The modern Australian equivalent is the Star of Gallantry (SG).
DEF Defective
DISCH Discharge, Discharged
DIS Disembarked
DIV Division - Formation consisting of three brigades plus supporting arms and services
DOA Died of Accident
DOI Died of Illness or injury
DOW Died of Wounds
DRO Daily Routine Orders
DSO Distinguished Service Order - Level 2 Imperial award for officers. T.
DTN Detention
DUS Depot Unit Supply
DVR Driver - Rank equivalent to Private
EEF Egyptian Expeditionary Force
EC, E.C., E Comd etc Eastern Command (Also known as 2 MD)
ENG England
ENGR Engineers
EVAC Evacuated, Evacuation
FAB Field Artillery Brigade
FCE Field Company Engineers
FD Field
FM Field Marshal - Highest officer rank
FRACT Fractured
GEN General - Commander of an Army
GNR Gunner - Artillery rank equivalent to Private
GOC General Officer Commanding
GSW Gunshot Wound
HMAT His Majesty's Australian Transport - Troop ship
HMT His Majesty's Transport - British as opposed to Australian
HQ Headquarters
HS Hospital Ship
ICC Imperial Camel Corps
IHL Incarceration and Hard Labour
IMP 1. Imperial 2. Imprisoned
INJ Injured - As opposed to wounded
KIA Killed in Action
LBS Pounds weight (450gm)
LCPL, L/CPL Lance Corporal - Second in Command of a Section
Ld'H Legion d'Honneur - French gallantry award, with a number of diffefrent levels.
L of C Line of Communications - the route that connects an operating military unit with its supply base.
LROC Light Rail Operating Company
LSGT, L/SGT Lance Sergeant - A Corporal as the temporary 2IC of a Platoon, but wearing the same three stripes as a Sergeant
LTCOL, LT COL Lieutenant Colonel - Commander of a battalion or equivalent unit
LT, LIEUT Lieutenant - Commander of a platoon [See also 2LT]
LTGEN, LT GEN Lieutenant General - Commander of a Corps of two or three Divisions
LTMB Light Trench Mortar Battery
MAJ Major - Commander of a company or equivalent unit
MAJ GEN Major General - Commander of a Division of three Brigades
MC Military Cross - Level 3 Imperial award for junior officers and warrant officers. The modern Australian equivalent is the Medal for Gallantry (MG).
MEF 1. Mediterranian Expeditionary Force - 2. Middle Eastern Forces
MGB Machine Gun Battalion
MGC Machine Gun Company
MM Military Medal - Level three Imperial award for soldiers and Warrant Officers. The modern Australian equivalent is the Medal for Gallantry (MG).