| AA | anti-aircraft |
| ADMS | Assistant Director Medical Services |
| ANZAC | Australian and New Zealand Army Corps |
| APC | Armoured Personnel Carrier |
| BEF | British Expeditionary Force |
| BFPO | British Forces Post Office |
| BLA | British Liberation Army |
| Boche | slang for German |
| Bt / Btn | Battalion |
| Bully stew | Traditional British rations, normally a beef stew of sorts |
| C.B. | confined to barracks |
| CC | casualty clearing (stations) |
| C-in-C | Commander-in-Chief |
| CMF | Central Mediterranean Forces |
| Co / Coy | Company |
| CO | Commanding Officer |
| C.O. | conscientious objector |
| C.T. | Communist Terrorist |
| DCM | Distinguished Conduct Medal |
| DFC | Distinguished Flying Cross |
| DSO | Distinguished Service Order |
| ENSA | Entertainments National Service Association |
| EOKA | Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters) |
| EPW | enemy prisoner of war |
| F.F.I. | Free from Infection |
| G.A.D. | Guards Armoured Division |
| GHQ | General Headquarters |
| GOC | General Officer Commanding |
| HAA | Heavy Anti-Aircraft |
| HAC | Honourable Artillery Company |
| HQ | Headquarters |
| Hun | British slang for German soldiers |
| ISAF | International Security Assistance Force |
| ITW | Initial Training Wing |
| Japs | slang for Japanese |
| KAR | King’s African Rifles |
| KD | khaki drill |
| LAA | Light Anti-Aircraft |
| LSL | Landing Ship Logistic |
| LST | Landing Ship Tank |
| MC | Military Cross |
| ME | Middle East |
| M.E.F. | Middle East Forces |
| MO | Medical Officer |
| MT | Motor Transport (section) |
| NATO | North Atlantic Treaty Organisation |
| NBC | Nuclear, Biological or Chemical |
| NCO | Non-Commissioned Officer |
| OC | Officer Commanding |
| OP | Observation Post |
| Pl | Platoon |
| POW | Prisoner of War |
| RA | Royal Artillery |
| RAF | Royal Air Force |
| RAMC | Royal Army Medical Corps |
| RAOC | Royal Army Ordnance Corps |
| REME | Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
| RFA | Royal Fleet Auxilliary |
| RHF | Royal Highland Fusiliers |
| RHU | Reserve Holding Unit |
| RM | Royal Marines |
| RMO | Regimental Medical Officer |
| RPG | Rocket Propelled Grenade |
| R&R | Rest and Recuperation |
| sitrep | situation report |
| TA | Territorial Army |
| TEZ | Total Exclusion Zone |
| UN | United Nations |
| US | United States |
| USAAF | United States Army Air Force |
| VAD | Volunteer Aid Detatchment |
| VC | Victoria Cross |
| VE Day | Victory in Europe Day |
| WAAF | Womens’ Auxiliary Air Force |