Abbreviations

An incomplete list of abbreviations that are found used in sources and records, both published and unpublished.

Contents: 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

0-9, symbols

Abbreviation	Definition
+	Has attained colloquial knowledge of the Hindoostanee Language

A

Abbreviation	Definition
A.A. and Q.M.G.	Assistant Adjutant and Quarter Master General.
A.A.G.	Assistant Adjutant General.
A.B. or B.A.	Bachelor of Arts.
A.B.A.S.	Associate of the British Archaaological Society.
abp/Abp.	Archbishop.
A.C.T.- I.A.V.C.	Animal Clipping Teams-Indian Army Veterinary Corps
A.D.C.	Aide-de-Camp.
Adml./Adm.	Admiral.
Adj.	Adjutant.
Adv-Gen.	Advocate-General.
A.D.V.R.S.	Assistant Director Veterinary & Remount Services
A.D.V.S.	Assistant Director Veterinary Service; Advanced Depot Veterinary Stores
A.G./Adjt-Gen.	Adjutant General.
A.INST.C.E.	Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers
Aldmn.	Alderman.
A.M. or M.A.	Master of Arts.
A. MULE DEPOT.	Army or Indian Army Mule Depot
APAC	Asia, Pacific and Africa Collection (at the British Library)
A.Q.M.G.	Assistant Quartermaster General.
A.R.A.	Associate of the Royal Academy of Arts.
Artill.	Artillery.
A.S.CORPS.	Army Service Corps.
Asst-commiss-Gen.	Assistant Commissary General
attd.	Military abbreviation, meaning attached
A Vet Hpl	Army Veterinary Hospital
A.V.M.D.	Army Veterinary Medical Department
A.V.S.	Army Veterinary Service

B

Abbreviation	Definition
b.	born.
BAH. I.S.C. CPS.	Bahawalpur Imperial Service Camel Corps
Barr.	Barrister.
Bart/Bart.	Baronet.
BBCIR	Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway
B.C.C.	Bikanir Camel Corps, raised in India, provided troops, mounted on camels, for the British in WWI
Bchy	Butchery, a building where animals are butchered; the killing of animals for food
B.C.L. or LL.B.	Bachelor of Civil Law.
BCR	Bengal Central Railway
B.C.S.	Bengal Civil Service
Bde.	Brigade
B.M. or M.B.	Bachelor of Medicine.
B.D.	Bachelor of Divinity.
B.D.V.S.	Base Depot Veterinary Stores, collecting depot for veterinary supplies and equipment
B.I.A.	British Indian Army, the army in India in the time of the British Raj (1858–1947)
BNR	Bengal Nagpur Railway
Bo.C.S.	Bombay Civil Service.
B.O.R.I.A.V.C.	British Other Ranks (in the) Indian Army Veterinary Corps
Bo.S.C.	Bombay Staff Corps.
Bp/Bp.	Bishop.
BR	Burma Railway
B.R.D.	Base Remount Depot
Brig.	Brigade
Brig.	Brigadier.
B.S.C.	Bengal Staff Corps.
B. Smith	Indian Army abbreviation for blacksmith
B.V.H.	Base Veterinary Hospital; Branch V.H

C

Abbreviation	Definition
(c.)	Conservative.
C.B.	Companion of the Order of the Bath
C.B.	Companion of the Bath.(Order of)
C.C.	Commander-in-Chief
C.C.	County Councillor.
C.C.S.	Ceylon Civil Service.
C.Eng.	Civil Engineer, or Chartered Engineer
CHDAVC	Convalescent Horse Depot Army Veterinary Corps
C.H.D.	Convalescent Horse Depot, a Depot where horses and mules are sent to recover from wounds and illness
C.I	Holder of Order of the Crown of India
C.I.	Order of the Crown of India.
C.I.E.	Companion of the Order the Indian Empire.
C.J.	Chief Justice.
C.M.G.	Companion of St. Michael and St. George.
CML.CPS.	Camel Corps, A.I.F.
C.P.	Central Provinces
C.S.I.	Companion of the Order of the Star of India
C.V.D.	Civil Veterinary Department, in British colonies, established as a research service to investigate indigenous diseases and to search for cures
CWGC	Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Capt.	Captain.
Cath.	Catholic.
Cav./Cavy.	Cavalry.
Col.	Colonel.
Comm.	Commander.
Commdg.	Commanding.
Commdr.	Commander.
Commdt.	Commandant.
Comm-Gen.	Commissary General.
Commr.	Commissioner

D

Abbreviation	Definition
D. A.G.	Deputy Adjutant-General.
D./ d.	Deceased/died.
D.A.A.G.	Deputy Assistant Adjutant General
D.A.C.G.	Deputy Assistant Commissary General.
D.A.Q.M.G.	Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General.
D.C.L. or LL.D.	Doctor of Civil Law.
D.D.	Doctor of Divinity.
D.L.	Deputy Lieutenant for the County of.
D.Q.M.G.	Deputy - Quarter - Master- General.
D.S.O.	Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.
Dau./dau.	Daughter
Dep.	Deputy.
Dep-Adv-Gen.	Deputy Advocate General,
Dist.	District.
Dow.	Dowager.

E

Abbreviation	Definition
E.A.D.C.	Extra Aide-de-Camp
E.I.C.S.	East India Civil Service.
EBR	East Bengal Railway
EIC	East India Company (abbreviation of HEIC)
EIR	East Indian Railway
Eld.	Eldest.
Eng.	English.
Engr.	Engineer.
Ext.	Extinct.

F

Abbreviation	Definition
F.C.S.	Fellow of the Chemical Society.
F.E.HIST.S.	Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
F.G.S.	Fellow of the Geological Society.
F.L.S.	Fellow of the Linnean Society.
F.M.	Field Marshal.
F.P.S.	Fellow of Philosophical Society of Great Britain
F.R.A.S.	Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.
F.R.C.I.	Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute.
F.R.C.P.	Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.
F.R.C.S.	Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons
F.R.G.S.	Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
F.R.HORT.S.	Fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society.
F.R.INST.B.A.	Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
F.R.S.	Fellow of the Royal Society.
F.R.S.L.	Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
F.S.A.	Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.
F.S.S.	Fellow of the Statistical Society.
F.S.Sc.A.	Fellow of the Society of Science and Art of London
FHC	Family History Centres
FHL	Family History Library
FRC	Family Records Centre (Islington, London)

G

Abbreviation	Definition
G.C.B.	Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
G.C.B.	Knight Grand Cross of the Bath
G.C.H.	Knight Grand Cross of the Hanoverian Guelphic Order.
G.C.I.E.	Knight Grand Cross of the Indian Empire
G.C.M.G.	Knight Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George.
G.C.S.I.	Knight Grand Cross of the Star of India
(G.L.)	Gladstone Liberal.
G.G.	Governor-General
G.O.C.C.	General Orders by Commander-in-Chief
G.O.G	General Orders by Government
G.S.	Governor of Scinde
GCM	Good Conduct Medal
GIPR	Great Indian Peninsula Railway
Gov.	Governor.
Gov-Gen.	Governor General.
Grdau.	Granddaughter.
GRO	General Register Office (Southport)
Grs.	Grandson.
Gt. B.	Great Britain.

H

Abbreviation	Definition
h. p....	half pay.
H.A.C.	Honourable Artillery Company.
H.A.D.C.	Honorary Aide-de-Camp
H.E.I.C.S.	Honourable East India Civil Service.
H.M.	His (Her) Majesty
H.M.l.N.	Her Majesty's Indian Navy.
H.M.S.	His (Her) Majesty’s Ship
H.M.S.	His (Her) Majesty’s Service
(H.R.)	Home Ruler.
H.R.H.	His or Her Royal Highness.
HEIC	Honourable East India Company
HEICS	Honourable East India Company's (Civil) Service
heir pres.	Heir presumptive.
(hon.) (Hon)	Honourable by right of office.
hon /Hon.	Honourable,
Huss.	Hussar.

I

Abbreviation	Definition
I.S.M.D.	Indian Subordinate Medical Dept
ICS	Indian Civil Service
I.M.L.	India(n) Miscellaneous List
inc.	Incumbent.
Indian NCO	Indian Non-Commissioned Officer
Inf.	Infantry.
Insp.	Inspector.
Insp-Gen.	Inspector General of…
IOR	India Office Records
Ir.	Irish.
Irel.	Ireland.

J

Abbreviation	Definition
J.P.	Magistrate for the county of.
Jnr.	Junior.

K

Abbreviation	Definition
K.C.B.	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
K.C.B.	Knight Commander of the Bath.
K.C.H.	Knight Commander of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order
K.C.H.	Knight Commander of the Hanoverian Guelphic Order.
K.C.l.E.	Knight Commander of the Indian Empire.
K.C.M.G.	Knight Commander of St. Michael and St. George.
K.C.S.l.	Knight Commander of the Star of India.
K.C.T.S.	Knight Commander of the Tower and Sword.
K.G.	Knight of the Order of the Garter.
K.H.	Knight of the Hanoverian Guelphic Order.
K.P.	Knight of the Order of St. Patrick,
K.T	Knight of the Order of the Thistle. .
K.T.S	Knight of the Tower and Sword.
Knt/Knt. leg, hon.	Knight of the Legion of Honor.

L

Abbreviation	Definition
(L.)	Liberal.
L.C.J.	Lord Chief Justice.
L.G.	Lieutenant-General
L.G.N.W.P.	Lieutenant-Governor, North-Western Provinces
L.R.C.P. Lon.	Licentiate of Royal College of Physicians, London.
l.S.C.	Indian Staff Corps
LDS	Latter Day Saints
Lieut. or Lt	Lieutenant.
LL.M.	Master of Laws.
Lt-Col/Lt.Col.	Lieutenant-Colonel.
Lt-Gen/Lt.Gen.	Lieutenant- General
(L.U.)	Liberal Unionist.

M

Abbreviation	Definition
M./ m.	married.
M.A.	Master of Arts.
M.B.	Bachelor of Medicine.
M.C.S.	Madras Civil Service.
M.D.	Doctor of Medicine.
M.G.	Major-General
M.INST.C.E	Member of Institute of Civil Engineers
M.P.	Member of Parliament.
M.R.	Master of the Bolls.
M.R.A.S.	Member of Royal Asiatic Society.
M.R.C.P. Lon.	Member of the Royal College of Physicians, London
M.R.I.	Member of Royal Institute.
M.R.S.P.W.C.	Member of Royal Society of Painters in WaterColours.
M.S.	Military Secretary
M.S.C.	Madras Staff Corps.
Maj.	Major.
Maj-Gen.	Major General.
Marq.	Marquess.
Med.Est.	Medical Establishment.
Mil.	militia.
Mil. Sec.	Military Secretary.
Mily.	Military.
MUS. D.	Doctor of Music.

N

Abbreviation	Definition
N.	New Furlough Rules
(N.)	Nationalist.
N.B.	Scotland.
N.C.	Native Cavalry
N.I.	Native Infantry
N.I.	Native Infantry.
N.W.F.P.	North West Frontier Province
NAM	National Army Museum
Natl.	National.
NCO(s)	Non-Commissioned Officer(s)
NMM	National Maritime Museum

O

Abbreviation	Definition
O.	Old Furlough Rules
OIOC	Oriental & India Office Collection (British Library)

P

Abbreviation	Definition
P.	Passed District Examination in the Persian & Hindoostanee Languages
P.A.	Private Affairs
P.C.	Passed College Examination in the Persian & Hindoostanee Languages
P.C.	Privy Councillor.
P.C.H.	Passed College Examination in the Hindoostanee Language
P.H.	Passed District Examination in the Hindoostanee Language
P.S.	Private Secretary
preb.	Prebendary.
pres/Pres.	president.
PRO	Public Records Office (now called TNA, The National Archives)
PWD	Public Works Department
PWI	Permanent Way Inspector (Railways)

Q

Abbreviation	Definition
Q.C.	Queen's Counsel.
Q.M.G	Quartermaster-General.

R

Abbreviation	Definition
(R.)	Radical.
r. f. p/ Ret.f.p.	Retired on full pay.
R.A.	Royal Artillery.
R.A.	Royal Academician.
R.C.	Roman Catholic.
R.D.	Rural Dean.
R.E.	Royal Engineers.
R.H.A.	Royal Horse Artillery.
R.M.	Royal Marines.
R.M.A.	Royal Marines Artillery,
R.N.	Royal Navy.
R.N.R	Royal Naval Beserve.
Rect.	Rector.
Rev.	Reverend.
RHA	Royal Horse Artillery
Rif/Rifl.	Rifle (Regiment/Brigade)
RN	Royal Navy

S

Abbreviation	Definition
S. or s.	Son.
(S) (s.)	Socialist.
S.C.	Sick Certificate
(sic.)	As written.
Sco.	Scotch.
SIR	South Indian Railway
Supt/ Supt.	Superintendent.
Surg./ Surg-Gen.	Surgeon/Surgeon General.
Surv.	Surveyor
Survg.	Surviving.

T

Abbreviation	Definition
T.C.	Passed the prescribed Test of qualification in Surveying and Civil Engineering at the Thompson College in Roorkie
TML	Town Major's List
TNA	The National Archives (formerly PRO, Public Records Office) at Kew

U

Abbreviation	Definition
U.K.	United Kingdom.
unemplyd.supernumy.	Unemployed Supernumerary(list)

V

Abbreviation	Definition
V.C.	Victoria Cross.
V.P	Vice-President.
VCO(s)	Viceroy's Commissioned Officer(s) (Refer: Indian Ranks)
Visc.	Viscount.
Vol.	Volunteers.

W

Abbreviation	Definition
WAC(I)	Womens Auxillary Corp (India)