Military abbreviations: W

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
Abbreviation	Definition 1	Definition 2 (if applicable)
W	Wounded	West
WA	West Africa	West African
WAAC	Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps
WAAF	Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (RAF)
W AFR R	West African Regiment
W/C	Wing Commander (RAF)
WCIU	War Crimes Investigation Unit
WD	Wounded
WE	War Establishment
WELSH H	Welsh Horse
WELSH HC	Welsh Hospital Corps
WELSH R	Welsh Regiment
W ENG	Warrant Engineer (RN)
WEST & CUMB Y	Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry
WG	Welsh Guards
WG CDR	Wing Commander (RAF)
W GDS	Welsh Guards
WGNR	Waggoner
WHC	Women’s Hospital Corps
WILTS R	Wiltshire Regiment
WILTS YEO	Wiltshire Yeomanry
WIR	West India Regiment
W KENT YEO	West Kent Yeomanry
WKR	Worker (grade equating to Pte in QMAAC)
WKS DTE	Works Directorate (Indian)
WO	War Office	Warrant Officer
WO1	Warrant Officer Class 1
WO2	Warrant Officer Class 2
WO CL I	Warrant Officer Class I
WO CL II	Warrant Officer Class II
WO CL III	Warrant Officer Class III
WOP	Wireless Operator (RAF)
WOP/AG	Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (RAF)
WORC R	Worcestershire Regiment
WORC YEO	Worcestershire Yeomanry
WR	Writer (RN)
WRAC	Women’s Royal Army Corps
WRAF	Women’s Royal Air Force
W RID R	West Riding Regiment
WRNR	Women’s Royal Naval Reserve
WRNS	Women’s Royal Naval Service
WRNZNS	Women’s Royal New Zealand Naval Service
WSC	Water Supply Corps (South African)
W SOM YEO	West Somerset Yeomanry
WT	Warrant
W/T	Wireless Telegraphy
WTR	Waiter (RN)
W TRAAL RFLS	West Transvaal Rifles
WVS	Women’s Voluntary Service
W YORK R	West Yorkshire Regiment