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An incomplete list of abbreviations that are found used in sources and records, both published and unpublished.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 Quartermaster General |
| A.A.G. | Assistant Adjutant General. |
| A.B. or B.A. | Bachelor of Arts. |
| A.B.A.S. | Associate of the British Archaeological 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 |
| AIRO | Army of India Reserve of Officers |
| 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 |
| Batty. | Battery |
| 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) |
| Bn. | Battalion |
| 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.C. | Commander-in-Chief |
| C.C. | County Councillor. |
| C.C.S. | Ceylon Civil Service. |
| C.Eng. | Civil Engineer, or Chartered Engineer |
| C.E.V.B. | Carnatic European Veteran Battalion |
| 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.Q.M.S. | Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
| C.S.I. | Companion of the Order of the Star of India |
| C.S.M. | Company Sergeant Major |
| 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./ d. | Deceased/died. |
| D. A.G. | Deputy Adjutant-General |
| 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 |
| DAS | Died At Sea |
| Dau./dau. | Daughter |
| D.C.L. or LL.D. | Doctor of Civil Law. |
| D.D. | Doctor of Divinity. |
| D.D.V.S. | Deputy Director of Veterinary Services |
| Dep. | Deputy. |
| Dep-Adv-Gen. | Deputy Advocate General |
| D.-G., A.V.D. | Director-General, Army Veterinary Department |
| Dist. | District. |
| D.L. | Deputy Lieutenant for the County of |
| DOD | Died Of Disease |
| DOI | Died Of Illness |
| DOW | Died Of Wounds during the conduct of war |
| Dow. | Dowager |
| D.Q.M.G. | Deputy - Quarter - Master- General |
| D.S.O. | Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. |
E
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| E.A.D.C. | Extra Aide-de-Camp |
| EBR | East Bengal Railway |
| EIC | East India Company (abbreviation of HEIC) |
| E.I.C.S. | East India Civil Service. |
| EIR | East Indian Railway |
| Eld. | Eldest |
| Eng. | English |
| Engr. | Engineer |
| E.V.O. | Executive Veterinary Officer |
| Ext. | Extinct |
F
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| FAR. CPL. | British Army abbreviation for Farrier Corporal |
| FAR. CPL. MJR. | British Army abbreviation for Farrier Corporal Major |
| FAR SERGT | Farrier Sergeant |
| FAR. S. MJR. | British Army abbreviation for Farrier Serjeant Major |
| 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. |
| FHC | Family History Centres |
| FHL | Family History Library |
| Fld Butch | Field Butchery, an Army Service Corps unit that slaughtered and dressed animals as food while in the field |
| F.L.S. | Fellow of the Linnean Society. |
| F.M. | Field Marshal. |
| F.P.S. | Fellow of Philosophical Society of Great Britain |
| F.Q.M.S. | Farrier Quartermaster Sergeant |
| F.R.A.S. | Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. |
| FRC | Family Records Centre (Islington, London) |
| 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.C.V.S. | Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons |
| F.R.D. | Field Remount Depot |
| 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. | Farrier-Sergeant |
| 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 |
| F.W.A.V.S. | Farriery Wing Army Veterinary School (Indian) |
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 |
| GCM | Good Conduct Medal |
| G.G. | Governor-General |
| GIPR | Great Indian Peninsula Railway |
| (G.L.) | Gladstone Liberal. |
| G.O.C.C. | General Orders by Commander-in-Chief |
| G.O.G | General Orders by Government |
| G.O.G.G. | General Order of Governor-General. |
| Gov. | Governor. |
| Gov-Gen. | Governor-General |
| G.R. | Georgius Rex (King George) |
| Grdau. | Granddaughter. |
| GRO | General Register Office (Southport) |
| Grs. | Grandson. |
| G.S. | Governor of Scinde |
| G.S.W. | Gun Shot Wound |
| Gt. B. | Great Britain. |
H
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| H.A.C. | Honourable Artillery Company. |
| H.A.D.C. | Honorary Aide-de-Camp |
| HEIC | Honourable East India Company |
| HEICS | Honourable East India Company's (Civil) Service |
| heir pres. | Heir presumptive. |
| H. KPR. | Horse keeper (Indian Army abbreviation ) |
| 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 |
| (hon.) (Hon) | Honourable by right of office. |
| hon /Hon. | Honourable, |
| h. p.... | half pay. |
| (H.R.) | Home Ruler. |
| H.R.H. | His or Her Royal Highness. |
| Huss. | Hussar |
I
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| I.A. | Indian Army |
| I.A.F.V.H. | Indian Advanced Field Veterinary Hospital |
| I.A.V.C. | Indian Army Veterinary Corps |
| I.A.V.C.C.& R. | Indian Army Veterinary Corps Centre & Records |
| I.A.V.S. | Indian Army Veterinary Service |
| I.B.D.V.S. | Indian Base Depot Veterinary Stores |
| I.B.V.S. | Indian Brigade Veterinary Section |
| ICC | Imperial Camel Corps |
| I.C.S.S. | Indian Cattle Stock Section |
| ICS | Indian Civil Service |
| I.F.B. | Indian Field Butchery |
| I.F.D.V.S. | Indian Field Depot Veterinary Stores |
| I.F.V.H. | Indian Field Veterinary Hospital |
| I.F.V.L. | Indian Field Veterinary Laboratory |
| I.M.A.- S.U. | Indian Mobile Anti-Surra Unit |
| I.M.L. | India(n) Miscellaneous List |
| I.M.V.H. | Indian Military Veterinary Hospital |
| I.M.V.S. | Indian Mobile Veterinary Section |
| inc. | Incumbent |
| Indian NCO | Indian Non-Commissioned Officer |
| Inf. | Infantry |
| Insp. | Inspector. |
| Insp-Gen. | Inspector General of… |
| IOR | India Office Records |
| I.O.R.I.A.V.C. | Indian Other Ranks Indian Army Veterinary Corps |
| Ir. | Irish |
| I.R.B.D.V.S. | Indian Reserve Base Depot Veterinary Stores |
| Irel. | Ireland |
| I. REMT. D. | Indian Army Remount Department, pre-1947 |
| I.R.V.C. | Indian Remount & Veterinary Corps |
| I.S.C. | Indian Staff Corps |
| I.S.M.D. | Indian Subordinate Medical Department |
| I.V.C.S. | Indian Veterinary Conducting Section |
| I.V.C.H. | Indian Veterinary Convalescent Hospital |
| I.V.D. | Indian Veterinary Detachment |
| I.V.R.H. | Indian Veterinary Reception Hospital |
| I.W.G.C. | Imperial War Graves Commission (now the CWGC) |
| I.W.M. | Imperial War Museum |
J
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| J.P. | Magistrate for the county of. |
| Jnr. | Junior. |
K
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| KC | King’s Crown, style of crown depicted on a badge |
| 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. |
| Knt/Knt. leg, hon. | Knight of the Legion of Honor. |
| 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. |
L
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| (L.) | Liberal. |
| L.C.J. | Lord Chief Justice. |
| LDS | Latter Day Saints |
| L.G. | Lieutenant-General |
| L.G.N.W.P. | Lieutenant-Governor, North-Western Provinces |
| Lieut. or Lt | Lieutenant. |
| L.H. | Light Horse |
| LL.M. | Master of Laws. |
| L.O.C. | Line of Communication, LOC troops belonged to units performing non-battle functions such as ordnance, supply, medical and veterinary duties |
| L.R.C.P. Lon. | Licentiate of Royal College of Physicians, London. |
| L.R.C.V.S. | Licentiate of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons |
| 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. |
| MACEDONIAN.MULE.C. | Macedonian Mule Corps, Indian Army |
| Maj. | Major. |
| Maj-Gen. | Major General. |
| Marq. | Marquess. |
| M.B. | Bachelor of Medicine. |
| M.C. | Military Cross |
| M.C.S. | Madras Civil Service. |
| M.D. | Doctor of Medicine. |
| Med.Est. | Medical Establishment |
| M.F.D. | Military Farms Department |
| M.G. | Major-General |
| M.I.D. | Mentioned In Despatches |
| Mil. | militia |
| Mil. Att. | Military Attaché |
| Mil. Sec. | Military Secretary. |
| Mily. | Military. |
| M.INST.C.E | Member of Institute of Civil Engineers |
| M.M. | Military Medal. |
| Mob Vet Sec | Mobile Veterinary Section |
| M.P. | Member of Parliament. |
| M.R. | Mounted Rifles |
| 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.C.V.S. | Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons |
| 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. |
| M.U. | medically unfit |
| MULE CPS. | Indian Army Mule Corps |
| Muleteer | Indian Army term for a member of the Mule Corps |
| MULTR. | Abbreviation for a member of the Mule Corps |
| MUS. D. | Doctor of Music. |
| M.V.D. | Mobile Veterinary Detachment |
| M.V.H. | Military Veterinary Hospital |
N
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| N. | New Furlough Rules |
| (N.) | Nationalist. |
| NAM | National Army Museum |
| Natl. | National. |
| N.B. | Scotland. |
| N.C. | Native Cavalry |
| NCO(s) | Non-Commissioned Officer(s) |
| N.I. | Native Infantry |
| N.I. | Native Infantry. |
| NMM | National Maritime Museum |
| NOK | next of kin |
| N.W.F.P. | North West Frontier Province |
| N.Y.D. | Not Yet Diagnosed (in medical terminology) |
O
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| O. | Old Furlough Rules |
| O.C.T.U. | Officer Cadet Training Unit |
| OIOC | Oriental & India Office Collection (British Library) |
| Orbat | Order of Battle |
| ORs | Other Ranks, all military personnel below commissioned officer’s rank, includes Warrant Officers, NCOs, and Privates |
| OSD | Officer's Service Dress – bronzed badges worn |
P
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| P. | Passed District Examination in the Persian & Hindoostanee Languages |
| P.A. | Private Affairs |
| P. BTY. | Indian Army Pack Battery Royal Garrison Artillery |
| P. BTY. F. F. | Indian Army Pack Battery Frontier Force |
| 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. CPS. | Indian Army Pony Corps |
| P.H. | Passed District Examination in the Hindoostanee Language |
| preb. | Prebendary. |
| pres/Pres. | president. |
| PRO | Public Records Office (now called TNA, The National Archives) |
| P.R.V.F.C. | Pakistan Remount, Veterinary & Farm Corps |
| P.S. | Private Secretary |
| P.V.O. | Principal Veterinary Officer |
| PWD | Public Works Department |
| PWI | Permanent Way Inspector (Railways) |
Q
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| Q.C. | Queen's Counsel. |
| Q.M. | Quartermaster |
| Qmr. | Quartermaster |
| Q.M.G | Quartermaster-General |
| Q.M.S. | Quartermaster Sergeant, a Staff Sergeant attached to each regiment, providing soldier's quarters, rations, ammunition, other supplies, laying out camp |
| QVC | style of Royal Crown on badges depicting that worn by Queen Victoria from 1837-1901 |
R
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| (R.) | Radical |
| r. f. p/ Ret.f.p. | Retired on full pay. |
| R.A. | Royal Artillery |
| R.A. | Royal Academician |
| R.A.V.C. | Royal Army Veterinary Corps |
| R.C. | Roman Catholic |
| R.D. | Rural Dean. |
| R.E. | Royal Engineers |
| Rect. | Rector |
| Rev. | Reverend. |
| R.H.A. | Royal Horse Artillery |
| R.H.M.S. | Royal Hibernian Military School |
| R.I.A.S.C. | Royal Indian Army Service Corps |
| Rif/Rifl. | Rifle (Regiment/Brigade) |
| R.L.A. | Relay Dressing Station, for dressing wounds on the way to the rear |
| R.M. | Royal Marines |
| R.M.A. | Royal Marines Artillery |
| R.M.A. | Royal Military Academy (Woolwich) |
| RMT. Dept. | Remount Department |
| R.N. | Royal Navy |
| R.N.R | Royal Naval Reserve |
| R.P.C. | Remount Purchasing Commission |
| R.Q.M.S. | Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant |
| R.S. | Remount Squadron |
| R.S.M. | Regimental Sergeant Major, the senior most ranking NCO (Warrant Officer) in a regiment, the most powerful man in the battalion after the C.O. |
| R.V.F.C.C. | Remount, Veterinary & Farms Corps Centre, Indian Army |
| R.V.H. | Reserve Veterinary Hospital |
| R.V.O. | Regimental Veterinary Officer |
S
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| S. or s. | Son |
| (S) (s.) | Socialist |
| S.A.A. | Small Arms Ammunition |
| S. & C. Smith | British Army abbreviation for Shoeing and Carriage Smith |
| S.C. | Sick Certificate |
| Sco. | Scotch |
| Serg., Serj, Serjt, Sergt, | Sergeant, NCO above the rank of Corporal, may hold specialty positions, as Farrier Sergeant |
| SERN | serial or service number |
| Sh/Sm | Shoeing Smith, another name for the farrier |
| (sic.) | As written |
| SIR | South Indian Railway |
| S.I.W. | Self Inflicted Wound |
| S.M. | Sergeant-Major |
| SO | Standing Order/s (Dress or Clothing) |
| S.O. | Staff Officer |
| S.O.S. | Struck Off Strength |
| Supt/ Supt. | Superintendent. |
| Surg./ Surg-Gen. | Surgeon/Surgeon General. |
| Surv. | Surveyor |
| Survg. | Surviving |
| S.V.O. | Senior Veterinary Officer |
| S.V.R.O. | Senior Veterinary & Remount Officer |
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 |
| Tpr. | Trooper |
U
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| U.K. | United Kingdom. |
| unemplyd.supernumy. | Unemployed Supernumerary (list) |
V
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| V.C. | Victoria Cross |
| VCO(s) | Viceroy's Commissioned Officer(s) (Refer: Indian Ranks) |
| V.C.P. | Veterinary Collecting Posts |
| V.D.I.A.V.C. | Veterinary Detachment, Indian Army Veterinary Corps |
| V.E.S. | Veterinary Evacuation Station |
| Vet. | Veterinarian; Veterinary, Veterinaries |
| Vety. | British abbreviation for Veterinarian; Veterinary, Veterinaries |
| V.H. | Veterinary Hospital |
| Visc. | Viscount |
| V.M.D. | Veterinary Medical Doctor |
| V.O. | Veterinary Officer or Victorian Order |
| Vol. | Volunteers |
| V.P | Vice-President. |
| V.R. | Victoria Regina (Queen Victoria) |
| V.R.C.S. | Veterinary & Remount Conducting Section |
| V.R.O. | Veterinary Research Officer |
| V.S. | Veterinary Surgeon |
W
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| WAC(I) | Womens Auxillary Corp (India) |
| W.D. | War Department |
| W.I.A. | Wounded In Action |
| W.O. | War Office (WO Series refers to War OFfice records at TNA or Warrant Officer |
| W.S.B. | War Service Badge |