WW2 Abbreviations Explained

By PhilLast updated 21 Aug 2026

When working with WW2 documents such as war diaries you’ll frequently come across abbreviations such as “OC B Coy reported RV at 0600, DF tasks confirmed with FOO.” which can make the documents hard to understand if you can’t decipher the abbreviations.

To help decipher these documents I’ve created a list of some of the most common abbreviations ordered alphabetically.

This page is a working glossary, not a finished one. It started with a single archive source and will keep growing as more material gets researched and added, so if you bookmark it, expect it to get more useful over time rather than staying still.

How to Use This List

A handful of abbreviations meant more than one thing depending on context. Where that happens, for example DF, which could mean either “defensive fire” or “direction finding,” or AA, which could mean “anti-aircraft” or “Army Act,” both meanings are listed as separate rows rather than crammed into one, so you can see at a glance that the abbreviation is ambiguous and judge from context which sense applies.

Two abbreviations that are worth knowing before you go any further, because they trip up almost everyone who starts reading British war diaries: OC (Officer Commanding) and CO (Commanding Officer) are not interchangeable. An OC commands a company, battery, or squadron-sized sub-unit; a CO commands a battalion or regiment. Every OC answers to a CO.

One spelling note: Army documents of this period use serjeant, not “sergeant,” so don’t mistake it for a typo when you see it in ranks like RSM or CSM.

Full A-Z Glossary

The complete list so far: regiments and corps of the British Army, general service abbreviations, and staff appointments and services.

AbbreviationMeaning
10 H10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales’s Own)
107 (etc.) RACRegiments, Royal Armoured Corps
11 H11th Hussars (Prince Albert’s Own)
12 L12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s)
13/18 H13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own)
14/20 H14th/20th King’s Hussars
15/19 H15th/19th King’s Royal Hussars
16/5 L16th/5th Lancers
17/21 L17th/21st Lancers
2 ICSecond in command
22 DGNS22nd Dragoons
23 H23rd Hussars
24 L24th Lancers
25 DGNS25th Dragoons
26 H26th Hussars
27 L27th Lancers
3 DG3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales’s Dragoon Guards)
3 H3rd King’s Own Hussars
4 H4th Queen’s Own Hussars
4/7 DG4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
48 (etc.) R TksBattalions, Royal Tank Regiment
48 (etc.) Recce RegtRegiments, Reconnaissance Corps
5 DG5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
7 H7th Queen’s Own Hussars
8 H8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars
9 L9th Queen’s Royal Lancers
A & SHArgyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise’s)
A air SCArmy air support control
A tkAnti-tank
A tpsArmy Troops
AAAnti-aircraft
AAArmy Act
AACArmy Air Corps
AADAdvanced ammunition depot
ABArmy book
AC sqnArmy co-operation squadron
ACCArmy Catering Corps
accnAccommodation
ACIArmy Council Instruction
ACIGSAssistant Chief of the Imperial General Staff
ackAcknowledge or acknowledged
ACVArmoured command vehicle
AD CorpsArmy Dental Corps
ADCAide-de-Camp
addsdAddressed
adjtAdjutant
admAdministration or administrative
ADSAdvanced dressing station
advAdvance or advanced
AECArmy Educational Corps
AFArmy form
AFVArmoured fighting vehicle
AGAdjutant-General
AGAnti-gas
airtpsAirborne troops
AL secAir liaison section
ALGAdvanced landing ground
ALOAir liaison officer
ambAmbulance
amnAmmunition
annxAnnexure
AOArmy Order
AOCAir officer commanding
AODAdvanced ordnance depot
APAmmunition point
APArmour piercing
APISArmy photographic interpretation section
approxApproximately
appxAppendix
APTCArmy Physical Training Corps
ARHAmmunition railhead
armdArmoured
armd CArmoured car
Armd CorpsArmoured Corps
AROArmy routine order
ARPAir raid precautions
ARPAmmunition refilling point
art wks coyArtizan works company
artyArtillery
ArtyArtillery
arty RArtillery reconnaissance
ASDAmmunition sub depot
ATAnimal transport
ATIArmy Training Instruction
ATMArmy Training Memorandum
ATSAuxiliary Territorial Service
attAttached
AustAustralia or Australian
B sup airfdBase supply airfield
B wkspBase workshop
BADBase ammunition depot
BAYSQueen’s Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards)
BBPBulk breaking point
BCBattery commander
BDBase depot
BDBomb disposal
bdeBrigade
bdrBombardier
bdyBoundary
BEDFS HERTSBedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
BGSBrigadier, General Staff
BMBrigade Major
bnBattalion
BODBase ordnance depot
BORDERBorder Regiment
BOWOBrigade ordnance warrant officer
BPCBulk petrol company
BQMSBattery quarter-master-serjeant
brBridge or bridging
BRA (AA)Brigadier Royal Artillery (Anti-aircraft Artillery)
BrigBrigadier
BSDBase supply depot
BSMBattery serjeant-major
btyBattery
BUBath unit
BUCKSBuckinghamshire Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (TA)
BUFFSBuffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
BWBlack Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
C in CCommander-in-Chief
C tpsCorps troops
CACoast artillery
CAGRACommander, Army Group, Royal Artillery
CAMBCambridgeshire Regiment (TA)
CAMERONIANSCameronians (Scottish Rifles)
CAMERONSQueen’s Own Cameron Highlanders
CampCamp Commandant
captCaptain
cavCavalry
CBConfinement to barracks
CBCounter-battery
CBOCounter-battery officer
CCCACommander, Corps Coast Artillery
CCPCasualty collecting post
CCSCasualty clearing station
CDCoast defence
CdnCanadian
CEChief Engineer
CFChaplain to the forces
cfnCraftsman
CGSChief of the General Staff
ChaplainsChaplains
CHESHIRECheshire Regiment
CIGSChief of the Imperial General Staff
CLCentre line
CMPCorps of Military Police
COCommanding officer
colColonel
COLDM GDSColdstream Guards
colnColumn
comdCommand, commander, commandant or commanding
commCommunication
compComposite
concConcentrate or concentration
constrConstruction
COOChief ordnance officer
coordCo-ordinate or co-ordinating
coyCompany
cplCorporal
CQMSCompany quarter-master serjeant
CSClose support
CSMCompany serjeant-major
CSOChief Signal Officer
CWChemical warfare
DCGSDeputy Chief of the General Staff
DCIGSDeputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff
DCLIDuke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
deconDecontamination
defDefence, defensive or defended
DERBY YEODerbyshire Yeomanry (TA)
detDetachment
DEVONDevonshire Regiment
DFDefensive fire
DFDirection finding
DIDDetail issue depot
dis PDispersal point
divDivision or divisional
DLIDurham Light Infantry
DocksDocks
DORSETDorsetshire Regiment
DPDelivery point
DRDespatch rider
DRLSDespatch rider letter service
DSDressing station
dvrDriver
DWRDuke of Wellington’s Regiment (West Riding)
DZDropping zone
E in CEngineer-in-Chief
E LAN REast Lancashire Regiment
E RIDING YEOEast Riding Yeomanry (TA)
E SURREYSEast Surrey Regiment
E YORKSEast Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of York’s Own)
EAEnemy aircraft
echEchelon
EFExpeditionary force
EMEElectrical mechanical engineer
EMOEmbarkation medical officer
empEmployment
engrEngineer
EngrsEngineers
eqptEquipment
ESOEmbarkation staff officer
ESSEXEssex Regiment
estEstablish or establishment
exclExclude, excluding or exclusive
F spFlash spotting
FBEFolding boat equipment
fdField
fd bchyField butchery and cold storage depot
fd bkyField bakery
FDLForward defended locality
FDSField dressing station
FFField force
FFFire fighting
FF YEOFife and Forfar Yeomanry (TA)
FGCMField general court-martial
fltFlight
fmnFormation
FOOForward observation officer
FORESTERSSherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)
freqFrequency
FSField security
FSField service
FSPBField service pocket book
FSSFixed signal service
FSUField surgical unit
ftFoot or feet
FUPForming up place
fusFusilier
fwdForward
galGallon
GCMGeneral court-martial
gdGuard
gdsmGuardsman
genGeneral
GHQGeneral headquarters
GLAS HGlasgow Highlanders (TA)
Glider P RegtGlider Pilot Regiment
glider tpsGliderborne troops
GLOSTERSGloucestershire Regiment
gnrGunner
GOC (in C)General Officer Commanding (-in-Chief)
GORDONSGordon Highlanders
gpGroup
GravesGraves
GREEN HOWARDSGreen Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regiment)
GREN GDSGrenadier Guards
GREYSRoyal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons)
grnGarrison
GROGeneral routine order
GSGeneral service
GSGeneral staff
GSGeneral Staff Branch
GSCGeneral Service Corps
GSOGeneral Staff Officer
HAAHeavy Anti Aircraft
HALLAMSHallamshire Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment (TA)
HAMPSHampshire Regiment
HDHome defence
HDHorse drawn
HEHigh explosive
HEREFORDHerefordshire Regiment (TA)
HERTSHertfordshire Regiment (TA)
HFHarassing fire
HFHigh frequency
HGHome Guard
HgsHirings
HIGHLAND RHighland Regiment
HLIHighland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)
hospHospital
howHowitzer
HPHigh power
HPHorse power
HQHeadquarters
hrHour
HTHigh tension
HTHorsed transport
hyHeavy
hygHygiene
IAIndian Army
ICIn charge of
ICInternal combustion
IGIrish Guards
inInch
inclInclude, inclusive, or including
IndIndia or Indian
indepIndependent
infInfantry
infmInformation or informed
INNISKSRoyal Inniskilling Fusiliers
INNS OF COURTInns of Court Regiment (TA)
instrInstruction or instructor
intIntelligence
IntIntelligence
Int CorpsIntelligence Corps
intercommIntercommunication
IOIntelligence officer
IOOInspecting ordnance officer
IWTInland water transport
IWTInland Water Transport
JAGJudge Advocate-General
juncJunction
KDG1st King’s Dragoon Guards
KENSINGTONSKensington Regiment (TA)
KinemaKinematography
KINGSKing’s Regiment (Liverpool)
KINGS OWNKing’s Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
KOSBKing’s Own Scottish Borderers
KOYLIKing’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
KRRCKing’s Royal Rifle Corps
KSLIKing’s Shropshire Light Infantry
L bdrLance-bombardier
L cplLance-corporal
L of CLine or lines of communication
L sjtLance-serjeant
LAALight Anti Aircraft
LabLabour
LADLight aid detachment
LCVLorry, command vehicle
ldgLanding
LEICESTERSLeicestershire Regiment
LFLancashire Fusiliers
LGLife Guards
LGALieutenant General in charge of Administration
LINCOLNSLincolnshire Regiment
LIRLondon Irish Rifles (TA)
LIVPL SCOTLiverpool Scottish (TA)
LMGLight machine gun
LOLiaison officer
LOND SCOTLondon Scottish (TA)
LOTHIANSLothians and Border Yeomanry (TA)
LOVATLovats Scouts (TA)
LOWLAND RLowland Regiment
LOYALSLoyal Regiment (North Lancashire)
ltLieutenant
ltLight
LTLine telegraphy
LTLow tension
LZLanding zone
MAMilitary assistant
MAMilitary Attaché
MACMotor ambulance convoy
magMagazine
magMagnetic
maintMaintenance
majMajor
MANCHManchester Regiment
MCMotor cycle
MCMovement control
mechMechanic, mechanical or mechanized
medMedical
MedMedical Services
medMedium
metMeteorological or meteorology
MFOMilitary forwarding officer
MFPSMobile field photographic section
MGMachine gun
MGAMajor General in charge of Administration
MGGSMajor General, General Staff
MGRA (AA)Major General Royal Artillery (Anti-aircraft Artillery)
mihMiles in the hour
milMilitary
minMinute
MMGMedium machine gun
MOMedical officer
mobMobile
mobMobilization
MONMonmouthshire Regiment (TA)
motMotor or motorized
MPMeeting point
MPMilitary police
mphMiles per hour
MPSCMilitary Provost Staff Corps
MSMilitary Secretary
MTMechanical transport
mtdMounted
mtnMountain
MTPMilitary Training Pamphlet
MXMiddlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own)
N STAFFSNorth Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales’s)
N YEONorthamptonshire Yeomanry (TA)
NCCNon-Combatant Corps
NCONon-commissioned officer
NFRoyal Northumberland Fusiliers
NfldNewfoundland
NIHNorth Irish Horse (SR)
NORFOLKRoyal Norfolk Regiment
NORTHAMPTONSNorthamptonshire Regiment
NOTTS YEONottinghamshire Yeomanry (TA)
NZNew Zealand
O 2 EOfficer in charge 2nd Echelon
OBDOrdnance beach detachment
OCOfficer commanding
offrOfficer
OICOfficer-in-charge
OOOperation order
OOOrdnance officer
OPObservation post
opOperation, operating, or operator
OpsOperations
OROther rank(s)
ordOrdnance
OrdOrdnance
orgOrganize or organization
OXF BUCKSOxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
PAPersonal Assistant
PADPassive air defence
paraParachute
paraParagraph
Para RegtParachute Regiment
PayPay
petPetrol
phPhotograph or photographic
ph RPhotographic reconnaissance
phoneTelephone
pkPark
plPlatoon
PMProvost marshal
pmrPaymaster
pnrPioneer
Pnr CorpsPioneer Corps
POPost Office
POLPetrol, oil, and lubricants
posnPosition
PostalPostal
PPPetrol point
prPounder
PRHPetrol rail head
PrintPrinting and Stationery
proProvost
ProProvost
PRPPetrol refilling point
ptPoint
ptePrivate
PWPrisoner(s) of war
Q MaintMaintenance
Q MovMovements
Q OpsOperations
QAIMNSQueen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service
QMQuarter-master
QMGQuarter-master-General
QMSQuarter-master-serjeant
QUEENSQueen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
R BERKSRoyal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales’s)
R IR FRoyal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria’s)
R SigsRoyal Corps of Signals
R Sup ORailhead (or roadhead) supply officer
R SUSSEXRoyal Sussex Regiment
R TksRoyal Tank Regiment
R WILTS YEORoyal Wiltshire Yeomanry (TA)
RARoyal Regiment of Artillery
RA Ch DRoyal Army Chaplains‘ Department
RACRoyal Armoured Corps
RAMCRoyal Army Medical Corps
RAOCRoyal Army Ordnance Corps
RAPRegimental aid post
RAPCRoyal Army Pay Corps
RASCRoyal Army Service Corps
RAVCRoyal Army Veterinary Corps
RBRifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own)
rdRoad
RDFRadio direction finding
RDIRelief driver increment
RECorps of Royal Engineers
recRecovery
recceReconnaissance or reconnoitre
Recce CorpsReconnaissance Corps
refReference
regRegulating or regulation
regtRegiment or regimental
REMEMechanical Engineering
REMERoyal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
repRepresentative
resReserve
RFRoyal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
rfnRifleman
rftReinforcement
RGHRoyal Gloucestershire Hussars (TA)
RHRailhead
RHARoyal Horse Artillery
RHGRoyal Horse Guards (The Blues)
rlyRailway
RlysRailways
RORoutine order
ROORailhead (or roadhead) ordnance officer
ROYALS1st Royal Dragoons
RPRefilling point
RPRegimental police
RPRules of Procedure
rpg (pm)Rounds per gun (per minute)
rptdRepeated
RQMSRegimental quarter-master-serjeant
RSRoyal Scots (The Royal Regiment)
RSFRoyal Scots Fusiliers
RSMRegimental serjeant-major
RTRadio telephony
RTORailway traffic officer
RURRoyal Ulster Rifles
RVRendezvous
RWRoyal Warrant for Pay and Promotion
RWFRoyal Welch Fusiliers
RWKQueen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment
S LAN RSouth Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales’s Volunteers)
S rgSound ranging
S sjtStaff serjeant
S STAFFORDSSouth Staffordshire Regiment
S Sup OSenior supply officer
SASmall arms
SASouth Africa or South African
SAASmall arm ammunition
salSalvage
SASCSmall Arms School Corps
SBStretcher bearer
SBGSmall box girder
SCStaff Captain
SCStaff Captain
SDStaff Duties (and Training)
SDPSupply dropping point
SEAFORTHSeaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany’s)
secSecond
secSection
SGScots Guards
SHARPSHOOTERSCounty of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) (TA)
sigSignal
sigmnSignalman
SigsSignals
sitrepSituation report
sjtSerjeant
SLSearchlight
SLStart line
SLPSupply loading point
SMCSten machine carbine
SMOSenior medical officer
SOStaff officer
SO in CSignal Officer-in-Chief
SOM LISomerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert’s)
SPSelf propelled
SPStarting point
spSupport
sprSapper
SQMSStaff (or Squadron) quarter-master-serjeant
sqnSquadron
SRHSupply railhead
SSMStaff (or Squadron) serjeant-major
STSupply and Transport, incl div RASC
staStation
STAFFS YEOStaffordshire Yeomanry (TA)
stereoStereoscope or stereoscopic
strSeater
strStrength
strat RStrategical reconnaissance
SUFFOLKSuffolk Regiment
supSupply
sup PSupply point
svySurvey
SvySurvey
SWBSouth Wales Borderers
swbdSwitchboard
TATerritorial Army
tac RTactical reconnaissance
TANSTerritorial Army Nursing Service
TCTraffic control
tclTentacle
TDRTank Delivery Regiment
techTechnical
teleTelegraph, telegraphic
tkTank
TMCThompson machine carbine
tnTransportation
TnTransportation
TOTransport officer (only when used with bde, bn, etc.)
TPTraffic post
tpTroop
tprTrooper
tptTransport
tptdTransported
tptrTransporter
trgTraining
TYNE SCOTTyneside Scottish (TA)
UMUrgent memorandum
V & RVeterinary and remounts
VCIGSVice Chief of the Imperial General Staff
vehVehicle
vetVeterinary
VPVulnerable point
VRDVehicle reserve depot
VSVisual signalling
vtmVehicles to the mile
W DGNS2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons) (TA)
W YORKSWest Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales’s Own)
WARWICKRoyal Warwickshire Regiment
WARWICK YEOWarwickshire Yeomanry (TA)
WEWar establishment
wefWith effect from
WELCHWelch Regiment
WGWelsh Guards
whWheeled
WILTSWiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh’s)
WksWorks
wkspWorkshop
WLWagon line
WOWarrant Officer
WORC RWorcestershire Regiment
WTWeapon training
WTWireless telegraphy
X rdsCross roads
Y & LYork and Lancaster Regiment
ydYard
YORKS HYorkshire Hussars (TA)

Know a WW2 abbreviation that should be here, or spotted one that looks wrong? Get in touch and we will check it against the source and add it.

A Note on Sources

The British Army entries so far are drawn from a 1943 War Office pamphlet on abbreviations, one of a series reissued periodically as usage in the field changed. As this list grows, later additions will be checked against their own sources and credited the same way.

This is a living reference and it is going to grow. British Army abbreviations are the starting point, not the destination: naval, RAF, Canadian, American, and German material will follow as separate additions over time.

Photo of the article's author, Phil
Phil – creator of Normandy War Guide
I started the site more than a decade ago after my first trip to Normandy and have been hooked ever since. I visit a few times each year to explore new sites and update the guide. Over the years I've also transcribed thousands of WWII war diaries and scanned original maps to keep this history accessible for everyone.