Anna (coin) 100th of a rupee
Arakan an area in Burma
Basha bamboo-built building
Bearer servant or general worker
Bengal now in Pakistan
Bhisti an Indian water-carrier
BOR British Other Ranks
Bully Beef slang for corned beef
Burma now Myanmar
Calcutta now Kolkata
CCS Casualty Clearing Station
CO Commanding Officer
DC-3 Douglas Dakota-3
Dhobi or Dhobi-wallah servant who washes clothing etc.
Dhoti a long white loincloth worn in place of trousers
DI dangerously ill
EMS Emergency Medical Services
GSW Gun Shot Wound
Havildar Sergeant in Indian Army
HMS His Majesty’s Ship
HQ Headquarters
ID Identification Disc
IGH Indian General Hospital
IGH(C) Indian General Hospital (combined)
Jai Hind Victory to India
L.O. Hello, as spoken in London’s East End by a Cockney
Memsahib respectful word for European married woman
Mepacrine substitute for quinine, used by British troops
Miliaria Rubra prickly heat
MP Military Police
NCO Non-Commissioned Officer
NGL Nurses Gossip Line
Pegu now Bago
PSP pierced-steel planking, used to make ground firm
Punka-wallah servant who pulls large carpet-shaped fan to air room
QA Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps
Rangoon now Yangon
RASC Royal Army Service Corps
RMP Royal Military Police
RMS Royal Mail Ship, used as a troop carrier
Sahib friendly greeting to European male
Sapper Royal Corps of Engineers (similar to an Army Private)
SEAC South East Asia Command
Sepoy Indian soldier (similar to Private)
SIB Special Investigation Branch (of RMP)
Simla now known as Shimla
SS steam ship
Tender small utility vessel
Thunder Box toilet pan
VAD Voluntary Aid Detachment
VD Venereal Disease
WVS Women’s Voluntary Service