While searching for your military ancestor in the Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards you may come across some abbreviations in the transcripts. Below we have listed a selection of abbreviations you may.
Rank
Many of the ranks within the RA have been abbreviated. The soldier's full substantive rank is given with any acting 'A', temporary 'T', or local 'L' rank in brackets afterwards.
Gnr - gunner
L/Bdr - lance bombardier
Bdr - bombardier
L/Sgt - lance sergeant
Sgt - sergeant
S/Sgt - staff sergeant
QMS - quartermaster sergeant
TSM - troop sergeant major
BQMS - battery quartermaster sergeant
RQMS - regimental quartermaster sergeant
BSM - battery sergeant major (warrant officer class 2)
WOII - warrant officer class 2
SM (AC) - sergeant major (artillery clerk)
RSM - regimental sergeant major (warrant officer class 1)
WOI - warrant officer class 1
2nd Lt - lieutenant
Lt - lieutenant
Lt Col - lieutenant colonel
Other abbreviations explained
U/P - unpaid
P/ - paid
Art. RA - artificer, Royal Artillery
Dvr - driver
(AC) - artillery clerk
( IG) - instructor in gunnery
(DO) - district officer
(DOIG) - district officer and instructor in gunnery
(QM) - quartermaster
(TIG) -technical instructor in gunnery
Unit
The unit the man was serving in at the time of the award
During the Second World War, the RA was organised with batteries in regiments. Their role was normally included in their title:
AOP - air observation post
LAA - light anti-aircraft
HAA - heavy anti-aircraft
Hy - heavy
Obs - observation
SL - searchlight
(M) - mixed
RHU - regimental holding unit
HQRA - headquarters Royal Artillery
TD - training depot
Awards
VC - Victoria Cross
GCB - Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the British Empire
KCB - Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
KBE - Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
CB - Companion, the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
CBE - Commander, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
OBE - Officer, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
MBE - Member, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
BEM - British Empire Medal
DSO - Distinguished Service Order
DSC - Distinguished Service Cross
MC - Military Cross
DFC - Distinguished Flying Cross
DCM - Distinguished Conduct Medal
GM - George Medal
DSM - Distinguished Service Medal
MM - Military Medal
DFM - Distinguished Flying Medal
MID - Mention in Despatches
CBC -Certificate for Brave Conduct
CIGS Certificate - Chief of the Imperial General Staff's Certificate
CinC Certificate - Commander in Chief's Certificate
MS Certificate - Meritorious Service Certificate
GC Cert - Good Conduct Certificate
GS Cert - Good Service Certificate
AFC – Air Force Cross
AFM – Air Force Medal
CGC – Certificate of Good Conduct
CMG – Order of St Michael and St George
MM – Military Medal
MSM – Meritorious Service Medal
QCB – Queen’s Commendation for bravery
QCVS – Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service
QGM – Queen’s Gallantry Medal
RHS Testimonial – Testimonial from the Royal Humans Society
RVM – Royal Victorian Medal
RVO – Royal Victorian Order
US AM – United States Air Medal
US BS – United Stated Bronze Star Medal
US LoM – United States Legion of Merit
Others
11 AGRO - 11 Army Group Regimental Orders
21 AGRO - 21 Army Group Regimental Orders
AACO - Anti-Aircraft Command Orders
AGRO - Army Group Regimental Orders
BEF - British Expeditionary Force
CMF - Central Mediterranean Force
MEF - Middle East Forces
BM - British Military Mission
DDMI - Department & Directorate of Military Intelligence
ECO - Eastern Command Orders
GRO - General Regimental Orders
LDO - London District Orders
MRA - Maritime Royal Artillery
MI - Military Intelligence
MS - Military Secretariat
NCO - Northern Command Orders
PW - Prisoner of War
RO - Regimental Orders
SCO - Southern Command Orders
SECO - South Eastern Command Orders
WCO - Western Command Orders