The Glossary & Abbreviations definitions that are given here, apply to the contents of this site only. They may have different meanings outside of this scope or in a different time frame.
| 2 i/c | Second in Command |
| A/ | As in A/Sgt – Acting rank. Can be paid but holder can be returned to previous rank by CO |
| AA | Anti-Aircraft |
| ACC | Army Catering Corps |
| Ack | Assistant |
| Adj | Adjutant – Administrative officer at Regimental Headquarters |
| ACPO | Assistant Command Post Officer – See CPO |
| AGPO | Assistant Gun Position Officer – See GPO |
| ATk | Anti-Tank |
| BC | Battery Commander – Major in charge of the battery |
| Bdr | Bombardier – RA equivalant of a corporal |
| BK | Battery Captain – Battery second in command |
| BL | Breech loading – gun that uses bagged charges |
| BSM | Battery Sergeant Major – Warrant Officer Class 2 |
| BTE | British Troops Egypt |
| BQMS | Battery Quartermaster Sergeant – Staff Sgt, responsible for battery stores & equipment |
| Bty | Battery – the standard unit of the RA. A Major’s command |
| CMF | Central Mediterranean Forces |
| CO | Commanding Officer – Lieutenant Colonel in charge of a regiment |
| COD | Coast Observer Detachment |
| CPO | Command Post Officer – Selected gun positions for each Troop & had overall control |
| Dvr/Op | Driver/wireless operator |
| EAA | East African Artillery |
| FFW | Fitted for wireless – Indicates that the vehicle has the equipment to mount a wireless set |
| FOO | Forward Observation Officer – Captain or Major controlling the fire of the guns, Usually mobile with the supported infantry or tanks |
| Gnr | Gunner – RA equivalent of a private |
| GOR | Gun Operations Room (AA) |
| GPO | Gun Position Officer – Controlled the Troop position |
| GS | General Service |
| HAA | Heavy Anti-Aircraft |
| HKSRA | Hong Kong & Singapore RA – recruited in India, mostly Punjabis |
| HKVDC | Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps – Locally recruited Europeans and Chinese |
| How | Howitzer- fires in the upper register i.e. above 45 degrees elevation |
| HQ | Head Quarters |
| LAA | Light Anti-Aircraft |
| LAA/ATk | Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank – A unit with two batteries of each type |
| L/Bdr | Lance Bombardier – RA equivalent of a lance corporal |
| LMG | Light Machine Gun (Bren) |
| (M) | “Mixed” in a Heavy Anti-Aircraft unit. Unit has ATS women fully integrated |
| OP | Observation Post – static position from which to observe & control the fire of the guns |
| OPA | Observation Post Assistant |
| OPO | Observation Post Officer – FOO in static position |
| PIAT | Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank (Spring loaded anti-tank projectile launcher) |
| QF | Quick Firing – gun using a metal cartridge case for the charge |
| QM | Quartermaster – responsible for regimental stores & equipment |
| RA | Royal Artillery |
| REME | Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers |
| RFA | Royal Field Artillery |
| RGA | Royal Garrison Artillery |
| RHA | Royal Horse Artillery |
| Royal Malta Artillery | |
| RMA | Royal Marine Artillery |
| RQMS | Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant – assists QM, WO2 |
| R Sigs | Royal Corps of Signals |
| RSM | Regimental Sergeant Major – WO1 |
| (SR) | Supplementary Reserve – N Ireland’s Territorial Army |
| TA | Territorial Army |
| TC | Troop Commander – Usually a Captain employed as an FOO |
| TF | Territorial Force – predecessor of the Territorial Army |
| Truck 5 cwt 4×4 | Jeep |
| TSM | Troop Sergeant Major also known as a Troop BSM |
| U/ | As in U/Sgt – Unpaid rank usually for a probationary period |
| Veh Mech | Vehicle Mechanic |
| Warrant Officer | Ranks above Staff Sergeant and below commissioned officer. Known as Sergeant Majors they hold their rank by Royal Warrant |
| WAA | West African Artillery |
| WOP | Wireless Operator |
| WO1 | Warrant Officer Class 1 – RSM and equivalent. See Insignia section |
| WO2 | Warrant Officer Class 2 – BSM and equivalent. See Insignia section |
| WO3 | Warrant Officer Class 3 – TSM. See Insignia section |
| W/ | As in W/Sgt – War rank, holder can be asked to revert to pre-war rank at the end of hostilities |