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Abbrevations used in the World War One Medal Cards

Rank

Information transcribed from the Medal Index Cards includes every rank listed on an individual's card. On the card, the ranks are usually given in an abbreviated form, and there may be a number of abbreviations for the same rank, for example there are at least four abbreviations for "Rifleman": RFLM., RFMN, RFN. and RFM. Therefore to make it easier to search by rank, we have expanded the abbreviations to their full form.

 

Go to: 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 A

Rank

Origin

A-A. FWN. Acting Assistant Forewoman QMAAC
A-CLY. TIND. Acting Cooly Tindal IRAQ
A-FWN. Acting Forewoman QMAAC
A-N. SISTER Acting Nursing Sister EA
A-P. CPL Acting Provost Corporal RHOD
A-SURG Acting Surgeon (3rd Class) IA
A-U. ADTR Assistant Under Administrator QMAAC
A.A. ENGR. Acting Artificer Engineer RN
A. ADTR. Assistant Administrator QMAAC
A.B. Able Seaman RN
A. BMBR. Acting Bombardier BA
A.C. Armourer's Crew RN
A.C. CTR. Assistant Chief Controller QMAAC
A.C.Q.M. SGT Acting Company Quarter Master Sergeant BA
A.C. SGT. Acting Colour Serjeant BA
A. COMM. Assistant Commissary IA
A. CPL. Acting Corporal BA
A.D. COMM. Assistant Deputy Commissary UG
A. FWN. Assistant Forewoman QMAAC
A. INSPR. Assistant Inspector EA
A.L. CPL. Acting Lance Corporal CAN
A.L.D. Acting Lance Dafadar IA
A.L/DFD Acting Lance Dafadar IA
A.M.1. Air Mechanic 1st Class RAF
A.M.1. Air Mechanic 1st Class RNAS
A.M. GR.1. Air Mechanic Grade 1 RNAS
A. NAICK. Acting Naik HKSRGA
A. NAIK Acting Naik IA
A.S.M. Assistant Station Master IA
A.S. SJT Acting Staff Serjeant BA
A. SGT. Acting Serjeant BA
A. SJT Acting Serjeant BA
A. SN. MR. Acting Station Master IA
A. SUPDT. Acting Superintendant IA
A. TRSR. Assistant Treasurer SOM
A.W.O. CL.2. Acting Warrant Officer Class 2 BA
A/S. Q.M. SJT. Acting Squadron Quarter Master Serjeant AUS
ABDAR Abdar IA
ACCT. & TR. Accountant & Treasurer IA
ACT. A.M.1. Acting Air Mechanic 1st Class RNAS
ACT. AR. MT. Acting Armourers Mate RN
ACT. ARMR. Acting Armourer RN
ACT. C.M.M. Acting Chief Motor Mechanic RNVR
ACT. CH. ARM. Acting Chief Armourer RN
ACT. E.R.A. Acting Engine Room Artificer RN
ACT.L.S. Acting Leading Seaman RN
ACT. L. STO. Acting Leading Stoker RN
ACT. S.P.O. Acting Stoker Petty Officer RN
AD. SVT. Admirals Servant RN
ADJ Adjutant SA
ADMIRAL Admiral RN
AGENT Agent EA
AMB. HVLDR. Ambulance Havildar IA
AMT. Q.M. SJT. Armament Quarter Master Serjeant BA
AMT. S. MJR. Armament Serjeant Major BA
APPCE. Apprentice MFA
AR. CR. Armourers Crew RN
AR. MTE. Armourers Mate RN
ARB. Labourer SA
ARMR Armourer RN
ARMR. Armourer SOM
ARMR. S. MJR. Armourer Serjeant Major BSAP
ART. ENG. Artificer Engineer RN
ART. HVLDR. Artificer Havildar IA
ARTFR. Artificer BA
ASST. Assistant RN
ASST. BUTCHER Assistant Butcher MFA
ASST. CK. Assistant Cook RN
ASST. FRN. Assistant Foreman MFA
ASST. KEL. Assistant Steward SA
ASST. LNDRYMAN Assistant Laundryman MFA
ASST. PAYR. Assistant Paymaster RN
ASST. SGN. Assistant Surgeon HK
ASST. SGN. Assistant Surgeon HK
ASST. STD. Assistant Steward MFA
ASST. TD. Assistant Steward RN
ASST. STO. Assistant Stoker RN
ASST. SURGN. Assistant Surgeon EA
AUDITOR Auditor EA

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Abbreviation B

Rank

Origin

B'SUN Boatswain RN
B. AMIN. C.Q.M.S. EGY
B. ART Boy Artificer RN
B. BUGR. Boy Bugler RMLI
B. CK. Boy Cook RNR
B.K.M.S. Battery Quarter Master Serjeant SA
B.Q.M. SJT. Battery Quarter Master Serjeant BA
B.S. MATE Blacksmiths Mate RN
B.S. MJR. Battery Serjeant Major BA
B. SHAWISH Bash Shawish EGY
B. SMITH Blacksmith IA
B. SVT. Boy Servant RN
B. TEL. Boy Telegraphist RN
BALTAGI Pioneer EA
BANDMASTER Bandmaster BA
BAR TDR. Bar Tender MFA
BARBER Barber IA
BD. CPL Band Corporal RN
BDN. Bandsman RN
BDR Bombardier SA
BDR. Bombardier AUS
BDSM Bandsman BA
BED. STD. Bedroom Steward MFA
BGE. TIND. Barge Tindal IRAQ
BGLR. Bugler BA
BHDY. Bhandary IRAQ
BHISTI Bhisti IA
BIMBASHI Major EGY
BK. S. MJR. Barrack Serjeant Major BA
BKR. Baker MFA
BLK. Blacksmith RN
BLKS. MTE. Blacksmith's Mate RN
BLKSTH. Blacksmith SA
BLRMKR. Boilermaker IRAQ
BLYR. Bricklayer IRAQ
BMBR Bombardier BA
BMKR. Boilermaker MFA
BNDSMN Bandsman BA
BNDSMN Bandsman RN
BOAT HD. Boat Hand MFA
BOATSN Boatswain RN
BOSN. Boatswain RN
BOY Boy MFA
BOY. SIG. Boy Signaller RN
BOY. TEL. Boy Telegraphist RN
BOY 1 Boy 1st Class RN
BR Bearer IA
BRIG. Brigadier BA
BRIG. GEN. Brigadier General BA
BRUGL Bugler EGY
BUG. Bugler EA
BUGLR. Bugler IA
BURG Burger SA
BURG. WERKER Civilian Worker SA
BUTCHER Butcher MFA

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Abbreviation C

Rank

Origin

C. OF. H. Corporal of Horse BA
C. CENSOR Cable Censor EA
C. CTR. Chief Controller QMAAC
C. DFDR. MJR. Queen Mary's Own Baluchistan Light Infantry IA
C. DVR. Crane Driver IRAQ
C.E.A. Chief Electrical Artificer RN
C.E.R.A. Chief Engine Room Artificer RN
C. HAVR. Company Havildar IA
C. HVLDR Colour Havildar IA
C. HVLDR. MJR. Company Havildar Major IA
C.M.M. Chief Motor Mechanic RNVR
C.M. STKPR. Chief Medical Storekeeper EA
C. MISTRI Camp Mistri IA
C.P.O. Chief Petty Officer RN
C.P.O. MECH. Chief Petty Officer Mechanic RNAS
C.P.O. WR. Chief Petty Officer Writer RN
C.Q.M. HVLDR. Company Quarter Master havildar IA
C.Q.M.S. Company Quarter Master Serjeant BA
C.Q.M. SJT. Company Quarter Master Serjeant BA
C.S. MJR. Company Serjeant Major BA
C.S. MJR. Company Serjeant Major SA
C. SJT. Colour Serjeant BA
C. SMITH Copper Smith IRAQ
C.Y.S. Chief Yeoman of Signals RN
CAMP. SUPDT. Camp Superintendant IA
CAPT. Captain BA
CAPT. Captain RN
CAR. CR. Carenters Crew RN
CAR. MATE Carpenters Mate RN
CARP. Carpenter IA
CARPR. Carpenter RN
CASHIER Cashier IRAQ
CATTLEMAN Cattleman MFA
CD. CK. Commissioned Cook RN
CDR. Commander RN
CDR. Conductor SA
CFN. Craftsman BA
CH. ARM. Chief Armourer RN
CH. ART. ENG. Chief Artificer Engineer RN
CH. BOSN. Chief Bosun RN
CH. BSN. Chief Bosun RN
CH. CAPT. Chaplain Captain SA
CH. CK. Chief Cook RN
CH. ENG. Chief Engineer RNR
CH. GEN. Chaplain General SA
CH. GNR. Chief Gunner RN
CH. OFFR. Chief Officer RN
CH. S.B. Chief Signal Boatswain RN
CH. SH. CK. Chief Ships Cook RN
CH. SHPT. Chief Shipwright RN
CH. SIG. Chief Signalman RN
CH. SKR. Chief Skipper RNR
CH. SPT. Chief Shipwright RN
CH. STO. Chief Stoker RN
CH. WR. Chief Writer RN
CH. Y.S. Chief Yeoman of Signals RN
CH. YEO. SIG Chief Yeoman of Signals RN
CHDRI Chaudri IA
CHKLR. Chuckler IA
CHLRNTR Chlorinator IRAQ
CHMN Chinaman (Labourer) IRAQ
CHWKDR Chowkidar IRAQ
CIV-SAR. Civilian-Sarwah IA
CIV. Civilian IA
CK. Cook RN
CK. MTE. Cooks Mate IRAQ
CK. MTE. Cooks Mate RN
CL. MIL. Military Assistant HK
CL. MOCHI 1st Class Mochi IA
CLERK Clerk IA
CLK. Clerk BA
CLK. Clerk SA
CLKR. Caulker IRAQ
CMPDR. Compounder IA
COL. Colonel BA
COL. COMDT. Colonel Commandant BA
COMM Commissary IA
COMMR. Commander RIM
CONDR. Conductor BA
CONST Constable NIG
CONST. Constable SOM
COOLY Cooly IA
COOPER Cooper IA
COPPER SM. Copper Smith MFA
COX'N Coxswain RN
CPL Corporal 2nd BA
CPL Corporal BA
CPL. MECH Corporal Mechanic SA
CPL. MJR. Corporal Major BA
CPR Cooper RN
CPTR. FMN. Carpenter Foreman IA
CR. SGT. Colour Serjeant RMLI
CTN & TRP. DK. STD. Canteen & Troop Deck Steward MFA
CTN. ASST. Canteen Assistant RN
CTN. CLK. Canteen Clerk RN
CTN. MGR. Canteen Manager RN
CTN. SR. Canteen Server RN
CTR. Controller QMAAC
CYC. Cyclist SA

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Abbreviation D

Rank

Origin

D. ADTR. Deputy Administrator QMAAC
D. COMM. Deputy Commissary IA
D. COMM. Deputy Commissary UG
D. CTR. Deputy Controller QMAAC
D.H. Deck Hand RNR
D. HD. Deck Hand RNR
D. LAS. Deck Lascar IRAQ
D.M. & LIEUT. Director of Music & Lieutenant BA
D. RDR. Despatch Rider EA
DAFTRY Daftry IA
DARZI Darzi IA
DE. LT. Second Lieutenant SA
DENT. SURG. Dental Surgeon RN
DERSEY Dersey IA
DFDR. Dafadar IA
DHOBIE Dhobie IA
DISPENSER Dispenser EA
DK. ENG. Deck Engineer MFA
DK. STD. Deck Steward MFA
DKYN. Donkeyman MFA
DMR Drummer BA
DNKYMAN Donkeyman MFA
DR. Driver RMA
DRAGER Bearer SA
DRDG. MTR. Dredging Master IRAQ
DRESSER Dresser IA
DRESSER Dresser RN
DRM. MJR. Drum Major IA
DVR-A. WHL. Driver Acting Wheeler BA
DVR. Driver BA
DWR. Driver SA
DYMN. Dairyman MFD

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Abbreviation E

Rank

Origin

E.A. Electrical Artificer RN
E. ERECTOR Engineer? Erector IRAQ
E.L. & ST. S. MJR. Engineer Ledgerkeeper & Storeman Serjeant Major BA
E.M. Electrical Mechanician RN
E. MISTRI Electrician Mistri IA
E.R.A. Engine Room Artificer RN
E.R. TIND. Engine Room Tindal IRAQ
E. ST. S. MJR. Engineer Storekeeper Serjeant Major BA
ENG. CAPT. Engineer Captain RN
ENG. COMMR. Engineer Commander RN
ENG. CR. Engineer commander RN
ENG. DVR. Engine Driver MFA
ENG. DVR. Engine Driver NIG/SOM
ENG. LT. Engineer Lieutenant RN
ENG. LT. CR. Engineer Lieutenant Commander RN
ENG. S. LT. Engineer Sub Lieutenant RN
ENGN. Engineman RNR
ENGR'S. STRKPR Engineers Storekeeper MFA
ENGR. Engineer RN
ENGR. Engineer SOM
ER-SGT. Engineer Serjeant AUS
EX. CHEF Extra Chef MFA
EX. S. MJR. Experimental Serjeant Major BA

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Abbreviation F

Rank

Origin

F. CADET Flight Cadet RAF
F.M. Field Marshal BA
F. OF W.S. MJR. Foreman of Works Serjeant Major BA
FAR. CPL. Farrier Corporal BA
FAR. CPL. MJR. Farrier Corporal Major BA
FAR. S. MJR. Farrier Serjeant Major BA
FARR. S/MAJ. Farrier Serjeant Major SA
FERIK General Egy
FIETST. Motorcyclist SA
FLR Follower IA
FLT. S. LT. Flight Sub Lieutenant RNAS
FLWR. Follower IA
FLWR. Follower SOM
FMN. Fireman MFA
FOL. Follower IA
FOLLR. Follower IA
FRGMN. Forgeman IA
FSHMN Fisherman MFA
FSR Fusilier BA
FT. PAYR. Fleet Paymaster RN
FT. SURG. Fleet Surgeon RN
FTR. Filter Iraq
FWN. Forewoman QMAAC

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Abbreviation G

Rank

Origin

G.M. SRVT. General Mess Servant Iraq
G.R. CK. Gun Room Cook RN
G.R. STD. Gun Room Steward RN
G.R. SVT. Gun Room Servant RN
GARR. Q.M. SJT. Garrison Quarter Master Serjeant BA
GARR. S. MJR. Garrison Serjeant Major BA
GAZMAGI Shoemaker EA
GDE. W. CARR. Grade Water Carrier IA
GDMN Guardsman BA
GEN. SVT. General Servant MFA
GENERAL General BA
GN. Gunner RNAS
GNGMN. Gangman Iraq
GNR Gunner BA
GNR-A. BMBR. Gunner Acting Bombardier BA
GSR. Greaser MFA
GUARD Guard IA

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Abbreviation H

Rank

Origin

H. CPTR. Head Carpenter IA
H. KDR. Head Conductor SA
H. KPR. Horse Keeper IA
H.Q. MOCHI Head Quarters Mochi IA
H. SMITH Head Smith IA
H. WCHMN. Hydraulic Winchman MFA
H. WDR. Headman Warder EA
H/SMIT Shoeing Smith SA
HAV. Havildar IA
HAVR. Havildar IA
HAVR. MAJ. Havildar Major IA
HBLR. Bugler SA
HD. Hand RNR
HDMN. Headman SA
HDMN. S.B. Headman Stretcher Bearer SOM
HKPR. Housekeeper EA
HMRMN. Hammerman IA
HON. LT. Honorary Lieutenant BA
HOSP. ATT. Hospital Attendant MFA
HRDSMN. Herdsman SOM
HSMN Horseman MFA
HVLDR. Havildar IA
HVLDR. MAJ. Havildar Major IA
HVLDR. SALUTRI Havildar Salutri IA

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Abbreviation I

Rank

Origin

I. AGENT Intelligence Agent SA
I.BEARER Indian Bearer IA
ICE MECH. Ice Mechanic IRAQ
ILLALO HDMN. Illalo Headman SOM
INSPR. Inspector SA
INSTR. CKY. Instructor of Cookery RN
INTER. Interpreter EA
INTERP. Interpreter MAL
INTPR. Interpreter IA
INTPR. Interpreter MFA
INTR. Interpreter EA

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Abbreviation J

Rank

Origin

J.R. Junior Reserve RN
J.R.A. Junior Reserve Attendant RN
JEMDR. Jemadar IA
JUMA Juma IA

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Abbreviation K

Rank

Origin

K.D. Kot Dafadar IA
K. DMR. Kettle Drummer BA
K.K.M.S. Company Quarter Master Serjeant SA
K.Q.M.S. Captain Quarter Master Serjeant SA
K.S.M. Company Serjeant Major SA
KADET Kadet SA
KAIMAKAM Lt Col EGY
KAPT Captain SA
KAPT. Captain SA
KAPT. EERW. Captain Reverend SA
KDR. Conductor SA
KHASDR. Khassadar IA
KISI Khalasi IA
KMDT. Commandant SA
KMTGR. Khidmatgar IA
KNDR. Kneader IA
KNR. Gunner SA
KNSMA. Khansama IA
KONST. Constable SA
KPIN. Chaplain SA
KPL. Corporal SA

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Abbreviation L

Rank

Origin

L. & S. INSP. Land and Ship Inspector IA
L-CPL Lance Corporal BA
L-CPL. Lance Corporal SA
L-DFDR. Lance Dafadar IA
L. BMBR Lance Bombardier RA
L. CK. MTE. Leading Cooks Mate RN
L. CPL. Lance Corporal BA
L.D.H. Leading Deck Hand RN
L.M. Leading Mechanic RNAS
L. NAIK. Lance Naik IA
L.NK. Lance Naik IA
L.P.M. Leading Patrol Man RN
L. PTR. Letter Painter IRAQ
L.S. Leading Seaman RN
L. SIG. Leading Signalman RN
L. SJT. Lance Serjeant BA
L. STO. Leading Stoker RN
L. TEL Leading Telegraphist RN
L/C Lance Corporal EA
LABR. Labourer IA
LANGRI Langri IA
LAS. Lascar IRAQ
LEADER Leader SA
LEWA Brigadier General EGY
LG.BTN. Leading Boatman RN
LG. C. CREW Leading Carpenters Crew RN
LIEUT Second Lieutenant BA
LIEUT. Lieutenant BA
LNMN. Lineman IRAQ
LPTMR. Lamptrimmer MFA
LT. Lieutenant RN
LT. Lieutenant SA
LT. COL. Lieutenant Colonel BA
IT. CR. Lieutenant Commander RN
LT. GEN. Lieutenant General BA
LT. KOL. Lieutenant Colonel SA