Abbreviations used on this site
Artillery
12pdr, 18pdr, 25pdr - Weight of the shell. The 18pdr had a calibre of 84mm, the 25pdr had a calibre of 3.45 inches (87.6mm)
BL - breech loading
AA - anti-aircraft
RBL - Rifled breech loading
RML - Rifled muzzle loading
Formations
Bde - Brigade
Bn - Battalion
GVA - Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery
RA - Royal Artillery
Regt - Regiment
RGA - Royal Garrison Artillery
RFA - Royal Field Artillery
Ranks
Brevet rank was Temporary, given to a officer who would revert back to his substantive rank on being posted or resigning.
Hon Col = Honorary Colonel
Maj = Major
Capt = Captain
Lt = Lieutenant
2/nd Lt = Second Lieutenant
WO 1 = Warrant Officer Class 1 (Regimental Sgt Major)
WO11 = Warrant Officer Class 11 (Crown) (Battery Sgt Major, [Troop Sgt Maj)
S/Sgt = Staff/ Sergeant (Crown & 3 Stripes) )Battery Quarter Master Sgt)
Sgt = Sergeant (3 Stripes)
Corpl/Cpl = Corporal (2 Stripes)
Bomd/Bdr = Bombardier same rank as Corporal (came into being officially 1920 but was used from about 1916)
L/Cpl/L/Bdr = Lance Bombardier same as Lance Corporal (1 Stripe)
Gnr = Private Soldier
Dvr = Driver, Private Soldier
Sergeant and Serjeant
Both spellings referto the same rank and the word comes from the Latin serviens, 'one who serves', through the Old French term serjant. Serjeant is mostly found in older documents and most now use sergeant. Some British infantry units, such as the light infantry, The Rifles and Rangers, still use serjeant
Trades within Ranks
Farr = Farrier
Fit = Fitter
Sad = Saddler
S/S = Shoeing Smith
Sig = Signaller
Trpt = Trumpeter
Whlr = Wheeler
Lim/Gnr = Limber Gunner
Medals
DSO = Distinguished Service Order
DCM = Distinguished Conduct Medal [other ranks highest award, next in order to the V.C.]
MC = Military Cross
MM = Military Medal
MID = Mention In Dispatches
VD = Victorian Decoration (awarded after 20 years service)
VLSM = Volunteer Long Service Medal (awarded after 20 years service)
TD - Territorial Decoration (awarded after 12 years service)
TEM = Territorial Efficiency medal (awarded after12 years service)
Sources and Resources
Derek Driscoll's original pages
Rank, Appointments and Medal Abbreviations
Rank, Appointments and Medal Abbreviations
Others Sites
Armed Forces Abbreviations
Armed Forces Network Abbreviations
Armor and Artillery Glossary
BBC News Style Guide
Common British Army acronyms and abbreviations of the First World War
Glossary of military abbreviations
Guide To Understanding Military Jargon And Acronyms
MOD Acronyms and Abbreviations
Researching the Lives and Records of WW2 Soldiers
Sergeant
The History of the English Word Serjeant
UK Military Acronyms