1c

1st class

RAMC

Royal Army Medical Corps

2c

2nd class

RAN

Royal Australian Navy

3c

3rd class

RANR

Royal Australian Naval Reserve

(A)

Air Branch (officer)

RANVR

Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve

AA

anti-aircraft

RCN

Royal Canadian Navy

AB

Able seaman

RCNC

Royal Corps of Naval Constructors

AEW

airborne early warning

RCNR

Royal Canadian Naval Reserve

(AR)

(Radio rating)

RCNVR

Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve

A/S

anti-submarine

RFA

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

(AW)

(Radio rating)

RFR

Royal Fleet Reserve

BPD

Boom Patrol Detachment

RM

Royal Marines

(C)

Chatham (before service number)

RMB

Royal Marine Band

CO

Commanding Officer

RNAS

Royal Naval Air Station or Service

CPO

Chief Petty Officer

RNASBR

Royal Navy Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve

CWGC

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

RNEC

Royal Naval Engineering College

CWO

Commissioned Warrant Officer

RNethN

Royal Netherlands or Dutch Navy

(D)

Dentist

RNorN

Royal Norwegian Navy

(D)

Devonport (before service No.)

RNPS

Royal Naval Patrol Service

DFC

Distinguished Flying Cross

RNR

Royal Naval Reserve

DSC

Distinguished Service Cross

RNSR

Royal Naval Special or Supplementary Reserve

DSM

Distinguished Service Medal

RNVR

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

DSO

Distinguished Service Order

RNV(W)R

Royal Naval Volunteer (Wireless) Reserve

(E)

Engineering Branch

(Stwd.)

Steward (rating)

FAA

Fleet Air Arm

(S)

Supply

FPB

Fast Patrol Boat

SAR

sea-air rescue

GM

George Medal

SBA

Sick bay attentant

HKRNVR

Hong Kong RNVR

SBS

Special Boat Service (Royal Marines)

HMCG

His Majesty’s Coast Guard

(T)             Torpedo (specialist)

HNoMS

His Majesty’s Norwegian Ship

T.124

merchant seaman serving under Naval Articles,

HQ

Headquarters

Ty/

Temporary

HS

Hospital ship

WO

Warrant Officer

(El)

Electrical

WRNS

Women’s Royal Naval Service

LS

Leading seaman

MBE

Member of the British Empire

MC

Military Cross

Met

Meteorological

MID

Mentioned in Despatches

MFV

motor fishing vessel

MGB

motor gun boat

ML

motor launch

MMS

motor minesweeper

MN

Merchant Navy

MPD

missing presumed dead

MPK

missing presumed killed

MTB

motor torpedo boat

MV

motor vessel

NAPS

Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service

NAS

Naval Air Station

Nor

Norwegian

n/k

Not Known

NZD

New Zealand Division (of the Royal Navy)

(O)

Officer’s Cook or Steward

OS

Ordinary Seaman

Pens

Pensioner

(Ply)

Plymouth (after service number)

(Orp)

Polish ship)

PO

Petty Officer

(P)

Portsmouth (before service number)

PS

Patrol Service

QARNNSR

Queen Alexander’s Royal Naval Nursing Service Reserve

RAF

Royal Air Force

RANR

Royal Australian Navy Reserve