| 2IC | second in command |
| ABC | Australian Broadcasting Commission |
| Adm | Admiral |
| AIF | Australian Imperial Force |
| ANGAU | Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit |
| Armd | Armoured |
| AT | anti-tank |
| ATIS | Allied Translator and Interpreter Section |
| Aust | Australian |
| AWM | Australian War Memorial |
| Bde | Brigade |
| Bdr | Bombardier |
| BG | bombardment group |
| Bn | Battalion |
| Brig | Brigadier |
| Brig Gen | Brigadier General |
| C in C | Commander in Chief |
| C of S | Chief of Staff |
| ca | circa (approximately) |
| Capt | Captain |
| Cav | Cavalry |
| Cdo Sqn | commando squadron |
| Cdr | Commander |
| Col | Colonel |
| Coy | Company |
| Cpl | Corporal |
| DCM | Distinguished Conduct Medal |
| DOW | died of wounds |
| Eng | Engineer |
| EP | enemy publication |
| EY rifle | extra yoke rifle (with grenade discharger) |
| Fld Amb | Field Ambulance |
| Flt-Lt | Flight Lieutenant |
| F-O | Flying Officer |
| F-Sgt | Flight Sergeant |
| Gnr | Gunner |
| HE | high explosive |
| HMAS | His Majesty’s Australian Ship |
| HQ | headquarters |
| IED | improvised explosive device |
| IJAF | Imperial Japanese Armed Forces |
| Ind Coy | independent company |
| IR | interrogation report |
| KIA | killed in action |
| L of C | line of communication |
| LCI | landing craft, infantry |
| L Cpl | Lance Corporal |
| L Sgt | Lance Sergeant |
| LMG | light machine gun |
| LST | landing ship, tank |
| Lt | Lieutenant |
| Lt Col | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Lt Gen | Lieutenant General |
| Maj | Major |
| Maj Gen | Maj Gen |
| MC | Military Cross |
| MG | machine gun |
| MIA | missing in action |
| Mk | mark |
| MMLA | MacArthur Memorial Library and Archives (US) |
| MSA | Murdoch Sound Archive |
| Mtn Bty | Mountain Battery |
| MV | motor vessel |
| NAA | National Archives of Australia |
| NARA | National Archives and Records Administration (US) |
| NCO | non-commissioned officer |
| NGIB | New Guinea Infantry Battalion |
| NGVR | New Guinea Volunteer Rifles |
| NLA | National Library of Australia |
| NMPW | National Museum of the Pacific War (US) |
| Off | officers |
| ONR | Office of Naval Records (US) |
| OP | observation post |
| Ops | operations |
| OR | other rank |
| PIB | Papuan Infantry Battalion |
| Pnr | Pioneer |
| P-O | Pilot Officer |
| PT | patrol torpedo (boat) |
| Pte | Private |
| RAAF | Royal Australian Air Force |
| RAP | Regimental Aid Post |
| Regt | Regiment |
| Rfn | Rifleman |
| RMO | Regimental Medical Officer |
| RNZAF | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
| Rt Hon | Right Honourable |
| Sgt | Sergeant |
| SLNSW | State Library of New South Wales |
| SLV | State Library of Victoria |
| SNLP | Special Naval Landing Party |
| Spr | Sapper |
| Sqn | Squadron |
| Sqn-Ldr | Squadron Leader |
| SWPA | South West Pacific Area |
| Tpr | Trooper |
| UQFL | University of Queensland: Freyer Library |
| USAAC | United States Army Air Corps |
| USAAF | United States Army Air Force |
| USS | United States Ship |
| VC | Victoria Cross |
| WIA | wounded in action |
| WO | Warrant Officer |