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 |