A B C D E


F G H I J


K L M N O


P Q R S T


U V W X Y Z


Abbreviations


Phonetic Alphabet

 

 

Abbreviations

The following is a list of commonly encountered Abbreviations. The list should not be considered exhaustive; as well, bear in mind that abbreviations, like language, have evolved over time. The use of periods in abbreviations was common in the first half of the 20th Century; they are excluded here for clarity. Definitions of the terms are linked to where appropriate, as well as dates of usage and other pertinent information.

 

A

AA

Anti-Aircraft

AAG

Arrival Assistance Group

AAGOR/AAOR

Anti-Aircraft Gun Operation(s) Room

AA S/L

Anti-Aircraft Searchlight

AAW

Anti-Air Warfare

A/B

Airborne (Second World War)

A/Bde

Armoured Brigade

ACI

Army Council Instruction(s) (British)

Ack Ack

Anti-Aircraft

ADATS

Air Defence Anti Tank System

A/Div

Armoured Division

Adm

Administration

ADM

Assistant Deputy Minister

ADS

Advanced Dressing Station

AFV

Armoured Fighting Vehicle

AFHQ

Allied Force Headquarters

AG

Adjutant General

AGRA

Army Group, Royal Artillery

AHQ

Army Headquarters

AIF

Australian Imperial Force

Ammo

Ammunition

Amn

Ammunition

ANZAC

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps

AOP

Air Observation Post

APC

Armoured Personnel Carrier

Armd

Armoured

Arty

Artillery

ASSU

Air Support Signal Unit

A/T or A/Tk

Anti-Tank

Aux

Auxiliary

AVGP

Armoured Vehicle, General Purpose

AWL / AWOL

Absent Without Leave

B

Bde

Brigade

BEF

British Expeditionary Force

BHQ

Battery Headquarters

Bn

Battalion

BOH

British Official History

Br

British

Brit

British

Bty

Battery

C

CAMC

Canadian Army Medical Corps

CAR

Canadian Army Registration

CARU

Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit

CATC

Canadian Artillery Training Centre

Cav

Cavalry

CBRG

Canadian Base Reinforcement Group

CBSO

Counter Battery Staff Officer

CBG

Canadian Brigade Group

CCHA

Canadian Corps Heavy Artillery

Cdn

Canadian

CE

Canadian Engineers

CEF

Canadian Expeditionary Force

CFA

Canadian Field Artillery

CFC

Canadian Forestry Corps

CFR

Canadian Forces Registration

CGA

Canadian Garrison Artillery

CMBG

Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group

CMMG

Canadian Motor Machine Gun

C of E

Church of England

Comd

Commander

compt comptroller
COMSAT communications satellite
COMSEC communications security
COMSEC C communications security custodian
COMSEC O communications security officer
con control
conc concentrate, concentration
conf conference
confd confidential
const construct
cont continue
contam contaminate, contamination
conv convalescent
coord co-ordinate, co-ordination
corps tps corps troops

CORCC

Canadian Overseas Railway Construction

COS change of strength
COS chief of staff
COSCOM corps support command

Coy

Company

CP collective protection
CP command post
CPO civilian personnel officer

CPSS

Canadian Pacific Steam Ship

CPX Command Post Exercise
CR central registry
CRA compulsory retirement age
CRAA corps rear administrative area
CRC control and reporting centre

CRLE

Canadian Radio Location Establishment

CRT

Canadian Railway Troops

CWAC

Canadian Women's Army Corps

CWNS

Canadian War Narrative Section

CWRO

Canadian War Records Office

D

DA

District Account

DA

Dominion Arsenal

DAG

Departure Assistance Group

DD

Deputy Director

DD

Duplex Drive

DHS (D Hist)

Director Historical Section

Div

Division

DND

Department of National Defence

DOC

District Officer Commanding

D-Q Line

Drocourt-Quéant Line

E

EEF

Egyptian Expeditionary Force

E&N

Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway

Engrs Engineers

F

Fd

Field (used in unit designations, ie Field Ambulance, Field Battery, Field Squadron etc.)

FOO

Forward Observation Officer

FS

French Speaking

FUP

Forming Up Point

G

GHQ

General Headquarters

GO

General Order

GS

General Service

GS

General Staff

GSW

Gun Shot Wound

H

HAA

Heavy Anti-Aircraft

HD

Home Defence

HMCS

Her (His) Majesty's Canadian Ship

HMG

Heavy Machine Gun

HMS

Her (His) Majesty's Ship (British)

How

Howitzer

HQ

Headquarters

HT

Horse Transport

I

Inf

Infantry

IsG

Instructors in Gunnery

J

K

KATCOM

Korean Augment To Commonwealth (Division)

L

LOB

Left Out of Battle

LOD

Line of Departure

L of C

Line(s) of Communication

M

M and D

Medicine and Duty

MD

Military District

Meteor

Meteorological Report

Met Rep

Meteorological Report

MG

Machine Gun

MMG

Medium Machine Gun

MMG

Motor Machine Gun

MOU

Memorandum of Understanding

MSB

Military Service Branch

MT

Mechanical Transport

N

NCM

Non-Commissioned Member

NCO

Non-Commissioned Officer

No

Number

NPAM

Non-Permanent Active Militia

NREF

North Russia Expeditionary Force

O

O Grp

Orders Group or O-Group

OMFC

Overseas Military Forces of Canada

OP

Observation Post

ORs

Other Ranks

OS

Overseas

P

PAC

Public Archives of Canada

PC

Privy Council

PF

Permanent Force

Pr

Pounder (as in artillery designations)

Q

QF

Quick Firing

R

RA

Royal Artillery (British Army)

RAF

Royal Air Force (British)

RAP

Regimental Aid Post

Rats

Rations

RCA

Royal Canadian Artillery

RCAF

Royal Canadian Air Force

RC

Roman Catholic

RCE

Royal Canadian Engineers

RE

Royal Engineers (British Army)

Recce

Reconnaissance

RFC

Royal Flying Corps (British Army)

Reinf

Reinforcement(s)

RN

Royal Navy (British)

RNAS

Royal Naval Air Service (British)

RNWMP

Royal North-West Mounted Police

RO

Routine Order(s)

R & Q

Rations and Quarters

S

Sec

Secretary

Sec

Section

SIN

Social Insurance Number

SIW

Self Inflicted Wound

SL

Start Line

SN

Service Number

SOS

Struck off strength

Sqn

Squadron

Stat

Stationary

Svy

Survey

T

Tel

Telegram

TEWT

Tactical Exercise Without Troops

TOS

Taken On Strength

TOS

Tam O'Shanter

Tp

Troop

Trg

Training

U

V

VD

Venereal Disease

W

WD

War Diary

WO

War Office (British)

X

Y

YMCA

Young Men's Christian Association

Z


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