OSE WWI Transcriptions from the Archives

Defini�ons • B.E.F. – Bri�sh Expedi�onary Force: Bri�sh and Commonwealth military effort on the Western Front • R.N.D. – Royal Naval Division: A Navy infantry division. • R.N.V.R. – Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve • Lieut – Lieutenant: Army and Navy Officer Rank • R.F.C. – Royal Flying Corps: Army flying corps, precursor to Royal Air Forc e • A.D.C. – Aide-de- campe: Assistant to a high-ranking officer • B.N.C. – Brasenose College, Oxford University • R.A.M.C. – Royal Army Medical Corps • Regt – Regiment: A permanent unit of an army, below the Batalion • Company/Coy – Third smallest unit within an army • Curé – French: A parish priest • Maxims – Machine guns • Guns – Generally used to describe larger weaponry, such as ar�llery • Billets – A soldier’s temporary lodgings, o�en in a civilian’s house • Bivouac – A temporary camp without tents, using improvised cover • Batalion/B n / Bat – A permanent unit of an army, below the Brigade • Bosche/Hun/Fritz – Names used for the German’s • Mine – A tunnel dug under a trench, then filled with explosives. O�en used at the beginning of an atack • Brigade – Largest permanent unit of an army • G.E.A. – German East Africa • Column/Col – Logis�cs units, normally linked to a par�cular offensive or theatre • Division/Div – A non- permanent military unit. May contain mul�ple regiments or brigades • Pte – Rank of Private. The lowest rank in th e Bri�sh Army • Intelligence/Intell – Military intelligence. At every level down to Company, there would be a specific intelligence officer • Brigadier/Bde r – Brigadier General. Lowest ‘General’ rank. Would command a Brigade • Captain/Capt. – Army: Junior Officer rank, would command a Company. Navy: Senior Officer rank, would command a ship • L.M.S.S.A. – License in Medicine and Surgery of the Society of Apothecaries • R.N. – Royal Navy • L.I. – Light Infantry. Infantry supported by less heavy weaponry or ar�llery. • H.E. – High Explosive shell • G.H.Q. – General Headquarters • H.M.M.D. – His Majes�es Motor Dri�er: Patrol boats hired by the Admiralty • A.S.C. – Army Service Corps: Logis�cs, catering, etc. Now the RLC, Royal Logis�cs Corps • E.E.F. – Egyp�an Expedi�onary Corps • Adjutant – Staff Officer, deals with administra�on of a unit • NCO – Non- Commissioned Officers: Corporal, Sergeant, Staff/Colour/Flight Sergeant, Warrant Officer. These differ in the Navy

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