Abbreviations of Titles – Styles – Ranks

Index of Abbreviations

International Royal and Noble Titles, Styles and Chivalric, Military, Diplomatic and Academic Ranks.

• AAG Assistant Adjutant-General
• AC Member of the second class or, Companion of the Order of Australia. Ashok Chakra (India).
• ACF Army Cadet Force
• ACM Air Chief Marshal
• AD Anno Domini, i.e. in the year of our Lord, Christian calendar. Member of the first class or, Dame of the Order of Australia.
• ADC Aide de Camp
• ADC Gen. Aide de Camp General
• Adj. Adjutant
• Adm. Admiral
• Admin. Administrator, administration
• ADO Assistant District Officer
• AE Recipient of the Air Efficiency Award
• AF(I) Auxiliary Force (India)
• AFC Recipient of the Air Force Cross
• AFM Recipient of the Air Force Medal
• AFSM Recipient of the Australian Fire Service Medal
• AG Adjutant-General
• AGC Adjutant-General’s Corps
• Agric. Agriculture
• AH Anno Hegirae, i.e. in the year of the Hijra, the Muslim calendar
• AK Member of the first class or Knight of the Order of Australia
• aka also known as
• ALH Australian Light Horse
• AM Recipient of the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Class of the Albert Medal. Member of the fourth class of the Order of Australia.
• A/M Air Marshal
• AMS Army Medical Service
• AO Member of the third class or, Officer of the Order of Australia
• AOC Air Officer Commanding
• AOE Member of the Alberta Order of Excellence (Canada).
• APM Australian Police Medal
• APTC Army Physical Training Corps
• ARA Associate of the Royal Academy
• arm. armoured
• ARRC Member of the second class or Associate of the Royal Red Cross
• ASEN Association of South East Asian Nations
• ASP Assistant Superintendant of Police
• Assist. Assistant
• Assoc. Associate, association
• AStJ Honorary Associate (Brother or Sister) of the Most Venerable Hospital of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in the British Realms
• ATM Ahmudan gaung Tazeik ya Min = Recipient of the the Medal for Good Service (Burma)
• ATS Auxiliary Territorial Service
• Ave. Avenue
• AVM Air Vice-Marshal
• AVSM Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (India)
• b. born
• BA Bachelor of Arts, British Airways
• BAAF Bahrain Amiri Air Force
• BAOR British Army of the Rhine
• Barr Barrister
• Bart. Baronet
• BBC British Broadcasting Corporation
• BC Before Christ, British Columbia
• BCL Bachelor of Civil Law
• BD Bachelor of Divinity
• Bde. brigade
• BE Buddhist Era
• Beds. Bedfordshire
• BEM Recipient of the British Empire Medal
• Berks. Berkshire
• BGM Recipient of the Burma Gallantry Medal
• BIOT British Indian Ocean Territory
• BL British Library
• BM Recipient of the Barbados Bravery Medal. Recipient of the Bravery Medal (Australia). Bachelor of Medicine.
• BMA British Military Administration
• BOAC British Overseas Airways Corporation
• BPM Recipient of the Burma Police Medal for gallantry or distinguished service (unoffical postnominal letters)
• BR Burma Rifles
• BRCS British Red Cross Society
• Brig. Brigadier
• Brig-Gen. Brigadier-General
• Bros. Brothers
• BS Bachelor of Surgery
• BSc Bachelor of Science
• BSIP British Solomon Islands Protectorate
• BSM Holder of the Medal Grade of the Barbados Service Award of the Order of Barbados. Battery Sergeant-Major.
• BSS Holder of the Star Grade of the Barbados Service Award of the Order of Barbados
• Bt. Baronet
• Btn. battalion
• bur. buried
• BVI British Virgin Islands
• ca. circa, i.e. about
• CAF Citizen Air Force (Australia)
• Camb. Cambridge
• CAS Chief of the Air Staff
• Cav. Cavalry
• CB Member of the third class, Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
• CBE Member of the third class, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
• CC Member of the first class, Companion of the Order of Canada. County Coincillor.
• CCC Member of the first class or Companion of the Order of the Caribbean Community
• CCF Combined Cadet Force
• CD Recipient of the Canadian Forces Decoration. Member of the first class or Commander of the Order of Distinction (Jamaica).
• CE Civil Engineer
• cdt. commandant
• Cdr. Commander
• Cdre. Commodore
• CDS Chief of the Defence Staff
• Cent. central
• CENTO Central Treaty Organisation
• CFSM Recipient of the Colonial Fire Service Medal for gallantry or distinguished service
• CGC Recipient of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
• CGH Recipient of the Castle of Good Hope Decoration (South Africa)
• CGM Recipient of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Sea or Air)
• CGS Chief of the General Staff
• CH Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour. Commander of the The Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage (Antigua & Barbuda).
• Ch. Chief
• Ch. Cmsnr. Chief Commissioner
• Chair. Chairman, or chairwoman
• Chanc. Chancellor
• Chap. Chaplain
• CHB Member of the second class or Companion of Honour of the Order of Barbados
• CHM Company Havildar Major
• CI Lady of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India
• CIE Member of the third class or Companion of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire
• CIGS Chief of the Imperial General Staff
• C-in-C Commander in Chief
• civ. civil
• CJ Chief Justice
• CM Commander of the Most Illustrious Order of Merit (Antigua & Barbuda). Member of the third class of the Order of Canada (since 1972). Recipient of the Medal of Courage of the Order of Canada (1967-1972). Recipient of the first, second, or third class of the Chaconia Medal (Trinidad and Tobago). Master in Surgery.
• CMG Member of the third class or, Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George
• CMM Member of the first class or, Commander of the Order of Military Merit (Canada)
• CMS Church Missionary Society
• Cmsnr. Commissioner
• Cncl. Council
• CNZM Member of the third class or, Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
• Co. Company, as in a trading company or manufacturer. County.
• CO Commanding Officer
• c/o child of
• COAS Chief of the Army Staff
• Col. Colonel
• Coll. College
• COM Member of the first class or, Commander of the Order of Merit (of the Police Forces of Canada)
• Comp. Companion
• Coron. Coronation
• Corp. Corporation
• COS Chief of Staff
• Cos. Companies
• coy. company, as in a military unit
• CP Central Provinces (India), Cape Province (South Africa)
• CPM Recipient of the Colonial Police Medal for gallantry or distinguished service
• CPO Chief Petty Officer
• CQ Member of the third class or, Chevalier of the Ordre national du Québec (Canada).
• cre. created
• CSC Recipient of the Conspicuous Service Cross (UK). Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia).
• CSI Member of the third class or, Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India. Recipient of the Cross of the Distinguished Order of the Solomon Islands.
• CSL Member of the second class or Cross of the Order of St Lucia
• CSM Conspicuous Service Medal (Australia). Companion of the Star of Merit (St Christopher & Nevis). Company Sergeant-Major.
• CSS Recipient of the second class, or Companion of the Order of the Star of Sarawak
• CStJ Member of the fourth class or Commander (Brother or Sister) of the Most Venerable Hospital of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in the British Realms
• Cttee. Committee
• CV Cross of Valour (Australia). Cross of Valour (Canada).
• CVO Member of the third class or Commander of the Royal Victorial Order
• d. died
• DA Member of the first class or Dame of St Andrew of the Order of Barbados
• DAG Deputy Adjutant-General
• dau. daughter
• DBE Member of the second class or Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
• DCB Member of the second class or, Dame Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
• DCL Doctor of Civil Law
• DCLI Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
• DCM Recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal
• DCMG Member of the second class or, Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George.
• DCN Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (Antigua & Barbuda)
• DCNZM Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
• DCO Duke of Cambridge’s Own, or Duke of Connaught’s Own
• DCVO Member of the second class or, Dame Commander of the Royal Victorial Order.
• DD Doctor of Devinity
• DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery
• deleg. Delegate, delegation
• dep. deputy
• dept. department
• desig. designate
• DFC Recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross
• DFM Recipient of the Distinguished Flying Medal
• DG Dragoon Guards
• DGCN Dame Grand Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (Antigua & Barbuda)
• DGN Dame Grand Collar of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (Antigua & Barbuda)
• DGNH Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the National Hero (St Christopher & Nevis).
• DH District Head
• DIG Deputy Inspector-General
• dip. Diploma
• Dir. director
• div. divorced
• DJAG Deputy Judge Advocate-General
• DJStJ Member of the third class or, Dame of Justice of the Most Venerable Hospital of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in the British Realms.
• DK Darjah Kerabat, the highest order of chivalry in a Malay state
• DL Deputy Lieutenant
• D.Litt. Doctor of Literature
• D.Mus. Doctor of Music
• DNH Dame Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the National Heros (Antigua & Barbuda).
• DNZM Member of the second class or, Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
• DO District Officer
• d/o daughter of
• dpl. Diploma
• DPPS Director of Public Prosecutions
• Drags. Dragoons
• DSC Recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross
• DSc. Doctor of Science
• DSO Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
• DSM Recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal (UK). Recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal (Australia).
• d.s.p. decessit sine prole, i.e. died without issue
• d.s.p.l. decessit sine prole legitima, i.e. died without legitimate issue
• d.s.p.m. decessit sine prole mascula, i.e. died without male issue
• d.s.p.s. decessit sine prole superstite, i.e. died without surviving issue
• DStJ Member of the third class or, Dame of Grace of the Most Venerable Hospital of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in the British Realms
• DTD Dekoratie Trouwe Dienst, i.e. Decoration for Faithful Service (South Africa)
• d. unm. died unmarried
• d.v.m. decessit vita matris, i.e. died in the lifetime of the mother
• d.v.p. decessit vita patris, i.e. died in the lifetime of the father
• dvpt. development
• DVR Decoratie Van Riebeeck (South Africa)
• DVSc. Doctor of Veterinary Science
• dvsn. division
• DWR Duke of Wellington’s Regiment
• DYO Duke of York’s Own
• (EC) Emergency Commission
• ED Recipient of the Efficiency Decoration
• educ. educated
• EEC European Economic Community
• EGM Recipient of the Empire Gallantry Medal
• ELR East Lancashire Regiment
• ELS Europese Lagere School
• EM Recipient of the Edward Medal
• Env. Envoy
• ERD Recipient of the Army Emergency Reserve Officers’ Decoration
• Esq. Esquire
• EStJ Esquire of the Most Venerable Hospital of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in the British Realms
• EU European Union
• Exon. Exeter
• Ext. Extraodinary
• FAA Fleet Air Arm
• FANY First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
• Fdn. Foundation
• Fed. Federation
• FFR Frontier Force Regiment
• FGS Fellow of the Geological Society
• FM Field Marshal
• FMS Federated Malay States
• FMSVF Federated Malay States Volunteer Force
• FMU Fellow of Madras University
• FO Foreign Office
• F/O Flying Officer
• FRAM Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music
• FRAS Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society
• FRCM Fellow of the Royal College of Music
• FRCP Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
• FRGS Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
• FRIBA Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects
• FRS Fellow of the Royal Society
• FSA Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
• Fus. Fusiliers
• FZS Fellow of the Zoological Society
• GATT General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
• GBE Member of the first class, Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
• GC Recipient of the George Cross. Grand Commander, Grand Companion, or Grand Cross.
• G/C Group Captain
• GCB Member of the first class, Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
• GCH Member of the first class or, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Guelphs of Hanover.
• GCIE Member of the first class or, Knight Grand Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire.
• GCM Grand Cross of the Most Illustrious Order of Merit (Antigua & Barbuda). Holder of the Gold Grade of the Crown of Merit of the Order of Barbados.
• GCMG Member of the first class, Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George.
• GCSI Member of the first class or, Knight Grand Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India. Member of the first class or, Grand Cross of the Distinguished Order of the Solomon Islands.
• GCSL Member of the first class, Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Lucia.
• GCStJ Member of the first class, Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Venerable Hospital of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in the British Realms
• GCVO Member of the first class, Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorial Order
• Gds Guards
• Gen. General
• Gib. Gibralta
• Glam. Glamorgan
• GM Recipient of the George Medal
• GNZM Member of the first class, Knight or Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
• GO Grand Officer
• GOC General Officer Commanding
• GOI Government of India
• GOM Grand Officer of the Most Illustrious Order of Merit (Antigua & Barbuda).
• Gov. Governor
• Govt./govt. government
• GOQ Member of the first class or, Grand Officier of the Ordre national du Québec (Canada).
• Grens. Grenadiers
• GSO General Staff Officer
• HAC The Honourable Artillery Company
• Hants. Hampshire
• HBC The Hudsons Bay Company
• H.B.M. His or Her Britanic Majesty
• HBM Recipient of the first, second, or third class of the Humming Bird Medal (Trinidad and Tobago)
• HBS Hogere Burger School, i.e. Citizens High School
• HC Honoris Crux (South Africa)
• H.E. His or Her Excellency. His Eminence (Cardinals of the the Church of Rome).
• H.E.H. His Exalted Highness (Nizam of Hyderabad only)
• HEIC The Honourable East India Company
• H.G.D.H. His or Her Grand Ducal Highness Highness
• H.H. His or Her Highness
• H.I.H. His or Her Imperial Highness (sons and daughters of Emperors)
• H.Il. H. His or Her Illustrious Highness (mediatised Counts of the Holy Roman Empre)
• H.I.M. His or Her Imperial Majesty (Emperors and Empresses)
• H.I.R.H. His or Her Imperial and Royal Highness
• HIS Hogere Indische School, i.e. Indian High School
• HLI Highland Light Infantry
• H.M. His or Her Majesty
• HMAS His or Her Majesty’s Australian Ship
• HMCS His or Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship
• HMCyS His or Her Majesty’s Ceylon Ship
• HMIS His Majesty’s Indian Ship
• HMNZS His or Her Majesty’s New Zealand Ship
• HMPS His or Her Majesty’s Pakistan Ship
• HMS His or Her Majesty’s Ship
• HO Home Office
• Hon. Honorary, Honourable
• HP Himachal Pradesh (India)
• H.P.H. His Princely Highness
• H.R.E. Holy Roman Empire
• H.R.H. His or Her Royal Highness
• HS Hogere School, i.e. High School
• H.S.H. His or Her Serene Highness
• Hunts. Huntingdonshire
• Hus. Hussars
• IA Indian Army
• IAC Indian Armoured Corps
• IAF Indian Air Force
• IARO Indian Army Reserve of Officers
• IAS Indian Administrative Service
• ICC Imperial Cadet Corps (India)
• ICS Indian Civil Service
• i.d.c. passed Imperial Defence College
• IDSM Recipient of the Indian Distinguished Service Medal
• IGP Inspector-General of Police
• IGS Indian General Service
• IIAF Imperial Iranian Air Force
• IIN Imperial Iranian Navy
• IJN Imperial Japanese Navy
• illegit. illegitimate
• ILO International Labour Organisation
• IMD Indian Medical Department
• IMF International Monetary Fund
• Imp. Imperial
• IMS Indian Medical Service
• IN Indian Navy
• INC Indian National Congress
• Inf. Infantry
• info. information
• INS Indian Naval Ship
• Inst. Institute
• Instn. Institution
• IOM Member of first, second, or third class of the Indian Order of Merit (military or civil); Isle of Man
• ION Imperial Ottoman Navy
• IOW Isle of Wight
• IPM Recipient of the Indian Police Medal for gallantry or distinguished service (unofficial postnominal letters)
• ISC Indian Staff Corps
• ISF Indian States Forces
• ISO Companion of the Imperial Service Order
• JAG Judge Advocate-General
• JAKLI Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (India)
• JAKRIF Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (India)
• Jam. Jamedar
• JCD John Chard Decoration (South Africa)
• JCM John Chard Medal (South Africa)
• jnr. junior
• JP Justice of the Peace
• KA Member of the first class or, Knight of St Andrew of the Order of Barbados
• KAR King’s African Rifles
• KB Knight of the Bath (to 1666); Knight Companion of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath (1725 – 1814)
• KBE Member of the second class or, Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
• KBt Knight Banneret
• KC One of His Majesty’s Counsel learned in the law (King’s Counsel)
• KCB Member of the second class, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
• KCH Member of the second class or, Knight Commander of the Royal Order of the Guelphs of Hanover.
• KCIE Member of the second class or, Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire.
• KCMG Member of the second class or, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George.
• KCN Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (Antigua & Barbuda)
• KCSI Member of the second class or, Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India.
• KCVO Member of the second class or, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorial Order.
• KDG King’s Dragoon Guards
• KEO King Edward’s Own
• KEVIIO King Edward the Seventh’s Own
• KFSM Recipient of the King’s Fire Service Medal for gallantry or distinguished service
• KG Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter
• kg kilogram
• KGCN Knight Grand Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (Antigua & Barbuda)
• KGN Knight Grand Collar of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (Antigua & Barbuda)
• KGNH Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the National Hero (St Christopher & Nevis).
• KGO King George’s Own
• KGVO King George the Fifth’s Own
• kgs kilograms
• KH Member of the third class or, Knight of the Royal Order of the Guelphs of Hanover.
• KHDS King’s Honorary Dental Surgeon
• KHNS King’s Honorary Nursing Sister
• KHP King’s Honorary Physician
• KHS King’s Honorary Surgeon
• KHVS King’s Honorary Veterinary Surgeon
• k. killed
• k-i-a. killed in action
• KIH Recipient of the first, second, or third class of the Kaiser-i-Hind Medal for Public Service in India (unnoffical postnomial letters)
• KJStJ Member of the second class or, Knight of Justice of the Most Venerable Hospital of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in the British Realms.
• km kilometre
• KMA Royal Military Acadamy (the Netherlands)
• KMC Recipient of the King’s Medal for Chiefs
• kms kilometres
• KNH Knight Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the National Heros (Antigua & Barbuda).
• KNIL Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger, i.e. the Royal Netherlands Indies Army
• KNL Koninklijk Nederlands Leger, i.e. the Royal Netherlands Army
• Knt Knight
• Knt Bach Knight Bachelor
• KNZM Member of the second class or, Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
• KOM Recipient of the Kedah Order of Merit (Malaysia)
• KORR King’s Own Royal Regiment
• KOSB King’s Own Scottish Borderers
• KOYLI King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
• KP Knight Companion of the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick (Ireland)
• KPM Recipient of the King’s Police Medal for gallantry or distinguished service
• KRRC King’s Royal Rifle Corps
• KSI Knight of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India
• KSLI King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
• KSM Kyet thaye zaung shwe Salwe ya Min = Recipient of the Gold Chain of Honour (Burma)
• KStJ Member of the third class or Knight of Grace of the Most Venerable Hospital of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in the British Realms
• KT Knight Companion of the Most Ancient and Noble Order of the Thistle
• Lancs. Lancashire
• LCJ Lord Chief Justice
• Lect. lecturer
• legit. legitimate
• Leics. Leicestershire
• LG Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. Life Guards.
• LH Light Horse
• LI Light Infantry
• Lieut. Lieutenant
• Lieut-Cdr. Lieutenant-Commander
• Lieut-Col. Lieutenant-Colonel
• Lieut-Gen. Lieutenant-General
• Lieut-Gov. Lieutenant-Governor
• Lincs. Lincolnshire
• LL.B. legum baccalaurus, i.e. Bachelor of Laws
• LL.D. legum doctor, i.e. Doctor of Laws
• LL.M. legum magister, i.e. Master of Laws
• Lncrs. Lancers
• loc. cit. loco citato, i.e. in the place quoted.
• LSE London School of Economics
• LSH Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Canada)
• LT Lady Companion of the Most Ancient and Noble Order of the Thistle
• LTA Lawn Tennis Association
• Ltd. Limited
• LVO Member of the fourth class or, Lieutenant of the Royal Victorial Order.
• LWD Recipient of the Louw Wepener Decoration (South Africa)
• M. Monsieur
• m. married
• MA Master of Arts
• Mag. Magistrate
• Maj. Major
• Maj-Gen. Major-General
• Mancun. Manchester
• MAO Muslim Anglo Oriental, college, Aligarh
• MAS Malay Administrative Service
• matric. matriculation
• MB Medal of Bravery (Canada), mediciniae baccalaureus, i.e. Bachelor of Medicine
• MBE Member of the fifth class or, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
• MC Recipient of the Military Cross
• MCC Marylebone Cricket Club
• MD mediciniae doctor, i.e. Doctor of Medicine
• Mdsx. Middlesex
• MEC Member of the Executive Council
• MFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• MFH Master of Foxhounds
• MG Medal for Gallantry (Australia). Holder of the Medal of Honour for Gallantry (Jamaica).
• MGC Machine Gun Corps
• MH Member of The Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage (Antigua & Barbados). Recipient of the Medal of Honour (St Christopher & Nevis).
• MHR Member of the House of Representatives
• MID Mentioned in dispatches
• Mil. Military
• Min. Minister
• MLA Member of the Legislative Assembly
• MLC Member of the Legislative Council
• MLI Mahratta Light Infantry
• Mlle. mademoiselle
• MM Recipient of the Military Medal. Member of the Most Illustrious Order of Merit (Antigua & Barbuda).
• Mme. madame
• MMM Member of the third class of the Order of Military Merit (Canada). Military Merit Medal (South Africa).
• MMV Medal of Military Valour (Canada)
• MNZM Member of the fifth class of the New Zealand Order of Merit
• MOH Ministry of Health
• MOM Member of the Order of Merit (of the Police Forces of Canada). Recipient of the first, second, or third class of the Public Service Medal of Merit (Trinidad and Tobago).
• Mon. Monmouthshire
• MP Member of Parliament
• MR Mounted Rifles
• Mr Mister
• MRCP Member of the Royal College of Physicians
• MRCS Member of the Royal College of Surgeons
• MRCVS Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• MSA Member of the State Assembly
• MSC Member of the State Council. Recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross (Canada).
• MSM Recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal
• msn. mission
• MSS Recipient of the first class, or Master of the Order of the Star of Sarawak
• MULO Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs
• MVC Maha Vir Chakra (India)
• MVF Malay Volunteer Force
• MVI Malay Volunteer Infantry
• MVO Member of the fourth class (1897 – 1982) or fifth class of the Royal Victorial Order
• MWO Militaire Willems-Orde, i.e. the Military Order of William (Netherlands)
• MY Motor Yacht
• NAAFI Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes
• NASA North American Space Agency
• NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
• NB New Brunswick
• Nb. Sub. Naib Subedar
• NCO Non-Commissioned Officer
• NE North East
• NH National Hero
• Northants. Northamptonshire
• Northumb. Northumberland
• Notts. Nottinghamshire
• NR North Riding
• NRR Northern Rhodesia Regiment
• NS Nova Scotia
• NSC Recipient of the Nursing Service Cross (Australia). Recipient of the National Service Cross (St Lucia).
• NSM Recipient of the National Service Medal (St Lucia). Nao Sena Medal (India).
• NW North West
• NWFP North West Frontier Province
• NWP North West Provinces
• NZ New Zealand
• NZSC New Zealand Staff Corps
• NZTAF New Zealand Territorial Air Force
• NZTF New Zealand Territorial Force
• OAM Recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia
• OB Member of the Order of Burma. Member of the Order of Belize.
• OBC Member of the Order of British Columbia (Canada).
• OBE Member of the fourth class or, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
• OBI Member of the first or second class of the Order of British India
• OBLI Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
• OC Member of the second class or, Officer of the Order of Canada. Officer Commanding.
• OCC Member of the second class or, Officer of the Order of the Caribbean Community.
• OCTU Officer Cadets Training Unit
• OD Member of the Order of Distincion (Antigua & Barbuda). Member of the Order of Distincion (St Christopher & Nevis). Member of the second class or Officer of the Order of Distinction (Jamaica).
• OECD Organisation for European Co-operation and Development
• Ofcr. Officer
• OH Member of The Most Precious Order of Princely Heritage (Antigua & Barbuda)
• OJ Member of the Order of Jamaica
• OM Officer of the Most Illustrious Order of Merit (Antigua & Barbuda). Member of the Order of Manitoba (Canada). Member of the Order of Merit (Jamaica). Member of the Order of Merit (UK).
• OMM Member of the second class or Officer of the Order of Military Merit (Canada)
• ON Member of the Order of the Nation (Antigua and Barbuda). Member of the Order of the Nation (Jamaica).
• ONZ Member of the Order of New Zealand
• ONZM Member of the fourth class or Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
• OOM Member of the second class or, Officer of the Order of Merit (of the Police Forces of Canada)
• OOnt Member of the Order or Ontario (Canada).
• ops. operations
• OQ Member of the second class or, Officier of the Ordre national du Québec (Canada).
• Org. Organisation
• OStJ Member of the fifth class, or Officer (Brother or Sister) of the Most Venerable Hospital of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in the British Realms
• OSS Recipient of the third class, or Officer of the Order of the Star of Sarawak
• OSVIA Opleiding School Voor Indische Artsen
• OTC Officer Training Corps
• Oxon. Oxford
• PARA Parachute (Regiment)
• Parl. Parliament, parliamentary
• PAV Prince Albert Victor’s
• PC Privy Councillor. Police Constable.
• PCNZM Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
• PEI Prince Edward Island
• PEPSU Patiala and Eastern Punjab States Union
• Ph. D. philosophiae doctor, i.e. Doctor of Philosophy
• Plen. Plenipotentiary
• PMRAFNS Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service
• PO Petty Officer (Navy) or Pilot Officer (Air Force)
• POW Prince of Wales’s
• PPCLI Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
• PR public relations
• Preb. Prebendary
• Presdt. President
• Princ. Principal
• Prof. Professor
• prom. promoted
• PSM Public Service Medal (Australia)
• Pte. Private
• PVC Param Vir Chakra (India)
• PVSM Param Vishishta Seva Medal (India)
• PWD Public Works Department
• PWO Prince of Wales’s Own
• QAIMNS Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service
• QARANC Queen Alexandra’s Roayl Army Nursing Corps
• QARNNS Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service
• QC Queen’s Counsel, i.e. one of Her Majesty’s Counsel learned in the law
• QDG Queen’s Dragoon Guards
• QFSM Recipient of the Queen’s Fire Service Medal
• QGM Recipient of the Queen’s Gallantry Medal
• QHC Queen’s Honorary Chaplain
• QHDS Queen’s Honorary Dental Surgeon
• QHNS Queen’s Honorary Nursing Sister
• QHP Queen’s Honorary Physician
• QHS Queen’s Honorary Surgeon
• QHVS Queen’s Honorary Veterinary Surgeon
• QM Quartermaster
• QMC Recipient of the Queen’s Medal for Chiefs
• QMG Quartermaster-General
• QMO Queen Mary’s Own
• QO Queen’s Own
• QPM Recipient of the Queen’s Police Medal for gallantry or distinguished service
• QRVSM Queen’s Royal Volunteer Service Medal
• QSM Recipient of the Queen’s Service Medal for community or public service (New Zealand)
• QSO Companion of the Queen’s Service Order for community or public service (New Zealand)
• QVO Queen Victoria’s Own
• RA Royal Academecian. Royal Regiment of Artillery.
• RAA Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery
• RAAC Royal Australian Armoured Corps
• RAAF Royal Australian Air Force
• RAAMC Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
• RAC Royal Armoured Corps
• RADA Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
• RAE Corps of Royal Australian Engineers
• RAEC Royal Army Educational Corps
• RAEME Corps of Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• RAF Royal Air Force
• RAFVR Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
• Raj Rif Rajputana Rifles (India)
• RAN Royal Australian Navy
• RANR Royal Australian Naval Reserve
• RANVR Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve
• RAOC Royal Army Ordnance Corps
• RAPC Royal Army Pay Corps
• RAR Royal Australian Regiment
• RAS Royal Asiatic Society
• RASC Royal Army Service Corps
• RAuxAF Royal Auxiliary Air Force
• RAVC Royal Army Veterinary Corps
• RC Roman Catholic
• RCA Royal Canadian Regiment of Artillery
• RCAC Royal Canadian Armoured Corps
• RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force
• RCAMC Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps
• RCAS Royal Central Asian Society
• RCE Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers
• RCEME Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• RCH Royal Canadian Hussars
• RCMP Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• RCN Royal Canadian Navy
• RCNR Royal Canadian Naval Reserve
• RCNRVR Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
• RCR Royal Canadian Regiment
• RCT Royal Corps of Transport
• Rcvd./rcvd. received
• RCyAF Royal Ceylon Air Force
• RCyN Royal Ceylon Navy
• RD Recipient of the Royal Naval Reserve Officers’ Decoration
• Rd. Road
• RDC Rural District Council
• RE Corps of Royal Engineers
• REAF Royal Egyptian Air Force
• Rear-Ad. Rear-Admiral
• Recce. Reconnaissance
• Regt. Regiment
• REME Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• REN Royal Egyptian Navy
• repud. repudiated
• Rev The Reverend (Priests, Vicars, Canons)
• RFA Royal Regiment of Field Artillery
• RFC Royal Flying Corps
• RFD Recipient of the Reserve Forces Decoration (Australia)
• RGA Royal Regiment of Garrison Artillery
• RGR Royal Garhwal Rifles, or Royal Gurkha Rifles
• RHA Royal Regiment of Horse Artillery
• RHG Royal Horse Guards
• RHLI Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Canada)
• RIA Royal Regiment of Indian Artillery
• RIAF Royal Indian Air Force
• RIC Royal Irish Constabulary
• RIE Corps of Royal Indian Engineers
• RIM Royal Indian Marine
• RIMA Royal Indian Military Academy
• RIN Royal Indian Navy
• RIR Royal Irish Rifles
• RM Corps of Royal Marines
• RMA Royal Military Academy, Royal Marine Artillery, Royal Regiment of Malta Artillery
• RMAF Royal Malaysian Air Force
• RMC Royal Military College
• RMLI Royal Marine Light Infantry
• RMN Royal Malaysian Navy
• RN Royal Navy
• RNC Royal Naval College, Royal Natal Carbineers (South Africa)
• RNLI Royal National Lifeboat Institution
• RNR Royal Naval Reserve. Royal Norfolk Regiment.
• RNVR Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
• RNZA Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery
• RNZAF Royal New Zealand Air Force
• RNZAMC Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps
• RNZEME Corps of Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• RNZN Royal New Zealand Navy
• RNZNR Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve
• RNZNVR Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve
• RNZR Royal New Zealand Regiment
• Roy. Royal
• RPAF Royal Pakistan Air Force
• RPN Royal Pakistan Navy
• RR Rajputana Rifles (India)
• RRC Member of the first class of the Royal Red Cross
• RRR Royal Rhodesia Regiment
• RS Royal Society
• Rs Rupees
• RSA Royal Scottish Academy
• RSigs Corps of Royal Signals
• RSM Regimental Sergeant-Major
• Rt Excellent The Right Excellent (Recipients of the orders of the National Hero of Jamaica, Barbados, etc.)
• Rt Hon The Right Honourable
• Rt Rev The Right Reverend
• RTC Royal Tank Corps
• RTR Royal Tank Regiment
• RU Rugby Union
• RUC Royal Ulster Constablulary
• RUR Royal Ulster Rifles
• RVM Recipient of the Medal of the Royal Victorian Order
• RWAFF Royal West African Frontier Force
• RWF Royal Welsh Fusiliers
• RYS Royal Yacht Squadron
• SA South Africa, Salvation Army
• Salop. Shropshire
• SAN South African Navy
• SAS Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati (India, title for Maratha married ladies)
• SASO Senior Air Staff Officer
• SBStJ Member of the sixth class or Serving Brother of the Most Venerable Hospital of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in the British Realms
• SC Recipient of the Star of Courage (Australia). Recipient of the Star of Courage (Canada). State Councillor.
• SCC Sea Cadet Corps
• Sc. D. scientiae doctor, i.e. Doctor of Science
• Sch. School
• SCM Holder of the Silver Grade of the Crown of Merit of the Order of Barbados
• SD Holder of the Southern Cross Decoration (South Africa)
• SE South East
• SEAC South East Asia Command
• SEATO South East Asia Treaty Organisation
• Sec. Secretary
• SG Recipient of the Star of Gallantry (Australia). Holder of the Barbados Star of Gallantry.
• SGM Recipient of the Sea Gallantry Medal (The Board of Trade Medal for Saving Life at Sea)
• Sigs Signals
• SJ Society of Jesus
• SJAB Saint John’s Ambulance Brigade
• SLC Recipient of the Saint Lucia Cross
• SLMH Recipient of the Medal of Honour of the Order of St Lucia
• SLMM Recipient of the Medal of Merit of the Order of St Lucia
• SLPM Recipient of the Les Pitons Medal of the Order of St Lucia
• SM Recipient of the Medal of Service of the Order of Canada (1967-1972). Recipient of the Southern Cross Medal (South Africa). Sena Medal (India)
• Smt Shrimati (India)
• SMV Recipient of the Star of Military Valour (Canada)
• SO Staff Officer
• s/o son of
• SOAS School of Oriental and African Studies
• Soc. Society
• Som. Somerset
• SOM Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit (Canada).
• SP Superintendant of Police
• SS Saints
• SSA Recipient of the 1st Class (Gold) of the Order of the Star of South Africa
• SSAF Straits Settlements Air Force
• SSAFA Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmens ‘ Families Association
• SSAS Recipient of the 2nd Class (Silver) of the Order of the Star of South Africa
• SSC Short Service Commission
• SSStJ Member of the sixth class or Serving Sister of the Most Venerable Hospital of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in the British Realms
• St. Street, Saint.
• St Kitts St Christopher
• Staffs. Staffordshire
• STOVIA School Tot Opleiding Voor Indische Artsen, i.e. Indigeneous School for Medicine
• Sub Maj. Subedar Major
• succ. succeeded
• Supt. Superintendant
• SVM Recipient of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal
• SW South West
• SWA South West Africa
• SWB South Wales Borderers
• SYSM Sarvottam Yudha Seva Medal (India)
• TA Territorial Army
• TC Recipient of the Trinity Cross (Trinidad and Tobago)
• TD Recipient of the Territorial Officers’ Decoration (1908-1932). Recipient of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration conferred in New Zealand (1911-1927). Recipient of the Territorial Officers’ Efficiency Decoration (1932-1967, 1982). Recipient of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve Officers Efficiency Decoration (1967-1982).
• TDM Thuye gaung ngwe Da ya Min = Recipient of the Silver Sword for Bravery (Burma).
• Temp. temporary
• TF Territorial Force
• TJFF Trans Jordan Frontier Force
• TNI Tentara Nasional Indonesia, i.e. the national army of Indonesia
• TPS Taing kyo Pyi kyo Saung = One who has promoted the welfare of his country (Burma)
• TRI Tentara Republik Indonesia, i.e. army of the Republic of Indonesia 1945-47
• UAE United Arab Emirates
• UCL University College London
• UDC Urban District Council
• UK United Kingdom
• Univ. University
• unm. unmarried
• UN United Nations
• UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
• UNICEF United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund
• UNO United Nations Organisation
• UP United Presbyterian, United Press, United Provinces (India), Uttar Pradesh (India after 1956)
• US United States of America
• USA United States
• USAAF United States Army Air Force
• USAF United States Air Force
• USN United States Navy
• USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
• UYSM Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (India)
• VA Lady of the first, second, third, or fourth class of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert
• VAD Voluntary Aid Detachment
• VC Recipient of the Victoria Cross
• VCO Viceroy’s Commissioned Officer
• VD Recipient of the Volunteer Officers’ Decoration. Recipient of the Indian Volunteer Forces Officers’ Decoration. Recipient of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration. Recipient of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Officers’ Decoration (1902-1948).
• Ven Venerable
• Vice-Ad. Vice-Admiral
• VIP Very Important Person
• VM Vayu Sena Medal (India)
• VOC Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, i.e. the United East India Company of the Netherlands
• Vol. Volunteer
• Vols. Volunteers
• Vr. C. Vir Chakra (India)
• VR Volunteer Rifles
• VRD Recipient of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Officers’ Decoration
• VRM Recipient of the Van Riebeeck Medal (South Africa)
• VSM Vishishta Seva Medal (India)
• WAAF Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
• War. Warwickshire
• WC West Central
• W/Cdr. Wing Commander
• WHO World Health Organisation
• WI West Indies, Women’s Institute
• Winton Winchester
• WO Warrant Officer. War Office.
• Worcs. Worcestershire
• WRAC Women’s Royal Army Corps
• WRAF Women’s Royal Air Force
• WRNS Women’s Royal Naval Service
• WRVS Women’s Royal Voluntary Service
• WS Writer to the Signet
• (WS) War Service
• WVS Women’s Voluntary Service
• WWII World War Two
• WW2 World War Two
• Xmas Christmas
• Xtian Christian
• Yeo Yeomanry
• YMCS Young Men’s Christian Association
• Yorks. Yorkshire
• yr. younger
• YSM Yudh Seva Medal (India)
• yst. youngest
• YWCA Young Women’s Christian Association
• ZH Zeine Hoogheid, i.e. His Highness
• ZVH Zeine Vorstelijke Hoogheid, i.e. His Princely Highness