A glossary of military-based abbreviations, acronyms and initials used throughout the First World War, the Second World War and through to present day. The abbreviations are associated with various different nations, primarily the United Kingdom but also including, India, South Africa, USA, New Zealand and Australia. Abbreviations also have a strong focus on various armed forces such as the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Use the browse prefix below to navigate to glossaries beginning with a specific letter.
| Contents: 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
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| Abbreviation
|
Definition 1
|
Definition 2 (if applicable)
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| W
|
Wounded
|
West
|
| WA
|
West Africa
|
West African
|
| WAAC
|
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps
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|
| WAAF
|
Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (RAF)
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| W AFR R
|
West African Regiment
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| W/C
|
Wing Commander (RAF)
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| WCIU
|
War Crimes Investigation Unit
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|
| WD
|
Wounded
|
|
| WE
|
War Establishment
|
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| WELSH H
|
Welsh Horse
|
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| WELSH HC
|
Welsh Hospital Corps
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| WELSH R
|
Welsh Regiment
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| W ENG
|
Warrant Engineer (RN)
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| WEST & CUMB Y
|
Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry
|
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| WG
|
Welsh Guards
|
|
| WG CDR
|
Wing Commander (RAF)
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| W GDS
|
Welsh Guards
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| WGNR
|
Waggoner
|
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| WHC
|
Women’s Hospital Corps
|
|
| WILTS R
|
Wiltshire Regiment
|
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| WILTS YEO
|
Wiltshire Yeomanry
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| WIR
|
West India Regiment
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| W KENT YEO
|
West Kent Yeomanry
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| WKR
|
Worker (grade equating to Pte in QMAAC)
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| WKS DTE
|
Works Directorate (Indian)
|
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| WO
|
War Office
|
Warrant Officer
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| WO1
|
Warrant Officer Class 1
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| WO2
|
Warrant Officer Class 2
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| WO CL I
|
Warrant Officer Class I
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| WO CL II
|
Warrant Officer Class II
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| WO CL III
|
Warrant Officer Class III
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| WOP
|
Wireless Operator (RAF)
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| WOP/AG
|
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (RAF)
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| WORC R
|
Worcestershire Regiment
|
|
| WORC YEO
|
Worcestershire Yeomanry
|
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| WR
|
Writer (RN)
|
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| WRAC
|
Women’s Royal Army Corps
|
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| WRAF
|
Women’s Royal Air Force
|
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| W RID R
|
West Riding Regiment
|
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| WRNR
|
Women’s Royal Naval Reserve
|
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| WRNS
|
Women’s Royal Naval Service
|
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| WRNZNS
|
Women’s Royal New Zealand Naval Service
|
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| WSC
|
Water Supply Corps (South African)
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| W SOM YEO
|
West Somerset Yeomanry
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| WT
|
Warrant
|
|
| W/T
|
Wireless Telegraphy
|
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| WTR
|
Waiter (RN)
|
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| W TRAAL RFLS
|
West Transvaal Rifles
|
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| WVS
|
Women’s Voluntary Service
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| W YORK R
|
West Yorkshire Regiment
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