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This page is incomplete and will probably be that way until I get the time to define all the terms which may not be familiar to the general public. Most of the terms were provided by Sam Wren and I thank him very much for his interest and effort. If you find terms with which you are not familiar and would like them defined pleased let me know. If you have suggestions, comments, and new definitions please pass them along.
A.D.S. - Advanced Dressing Station. The second step in casualty evacuation after the R.A.P. (Regimental Aid Post), the latter of which refers to the Bn. level of dealing with casualties. (And is operated by the Bn. MO). From here casualties are evacuated to the ADS which collects the casualties from all the RAPs of a single brigade or perhaps of more than one brigade under certain circumstances. The ADS is operated by the Field Ambulance assigned to that brigade. From here the casualties are sent to the CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) which is run by the Corps.
B.O.R. - maybe "battalion orderly room", but this would seemingly be included with HQ Coy, so I don't know.
C.B. - confined to barracks
Coy. - Company
TCV's - Troop-Carrying Vehicles; any vehicle used primarily for the transport of personnel: lorries, half-tracks, Kangaroos, etc.
Mae Wests - life jackets
Recce - reconnaissance
O Grp. - Orders Group
Slit Trenches - a slit-like trench dug to accommodate and protect a single man.
S.A. - small arms, ie. rifle, pistol, sub-machine guns
Support Coy.-Support Company
Carrier Pl. - a platoon of Bren Gun Carriers
D.R.'s - Dispatch Riders; personnel attached to headquarters units (Coy, Bn, etc.) who were responsible for delivering orders or other important documents normally travelling by motorcycle.
Fire Coy - I've never seen this term before and so this is only supposition based on my existing knowledge: I presume that this is referring to the rifle companies since the support company - which contains the mortar platoon and MG platoon - are obviously not being referred to.
F.O.O. - Forward Observation Officer. An artillery officer who remained with infantry and tank battalions to set up observation posts in the front lines from which to observe enemy positions and radio the coordinates of targets to the guns further in the rear.
F.U.P.'s - Forming-Up Place. An area short of the start line where units preparing for an attack gather up in preparation for the advance.
Hackle - the Red Hackle, the distinctive mark of a soldier in The Black Watch, is made from red vulture feathers and is worn in the bonnet. The legend is that it was awarded as a battle honour to the Black Watch in 1795. The sense of pride in this symbol is evident by a comment after action in May-sur-Orne, July, 1944: "The O.C. addressed us today saying that in all its history, never has the honor of the "HACKLE" been higher than it is today. "
"Huddle Green" and "Huddle Red" - I believe that these are different levels of O-groups, "green" is used in reference to battalion O-groups, perhaps "red" is at the company or platoon level?
I Secn.- Intelligence Section
Kapok Bridge - a temporary bridge constructed of kapok, a type of cork.
L.A.A. - Light Anti Aircraft Regiment. Armed primarily with towed and Self-propelled (S.P.) 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns. As the war progressed these were used more in a ground role, kind of as heavy machine guns against ground targets or were scrapped altogether to provide infantry reinforcements.
L.V.T. - Landing Vehicle Tracked. An American-produced tracked amphibious vehicle capable of carrying about a platoon of men or small vehicles over water and onto land. Called the "Alligator" by Americans and "Buffalo" by British and Canadians.
M.G. - machine gun
Moaning Minnie - the Nebelwerfer, a very mobile German rocket launcher. The rockets made a "moaning" sound as they were launched, one which no veteran could forget.
R.A.P. - Regimental Aid Post
R.C.A.S.C. - Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. One of the supporting arms. Primary function was that of transportation (of men, supplies, ammo, etc).
R.V. - Rendez-Vous
S.P. - Self-propelled
S.R.O. - Standing Room Only
T.A.B.T. - some sort of inoculation, probably for several different things but more than likely including tuberculosis. I may be able to define this better later on.
5 C.I.B. - 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade
#10 C.B.R.G. - No idea. this is apparently the initials of an obscure unit of some type. My guess is it's some sort of reinforcement holding unit.
