Key to Abbreviations

Accidental Injury

RAF category for “Medically fit to fly”.

Canadian Artillery Training Centre.

"Ack-Ack" anti-aircraft gun.

(RAF) Auxiliary Air Force.

Advanced Air Striking Force. RAF fighter serving from bases in France pre-Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

Able Body Seaman

(RAF) Aor Bomber.

Airbourne Cigar. A 3 stage jammer code used in 1944 to interfere with German fighter Control.

American-British-Dutch- Australian forces that made up the South-West Pacific Command.

(Gr.) Wehrmacht intelligence service. (WWII); also POW camp ‘defense’ guards looking for escape plans aka ‘ferrets’ by the POW’s.

Air craft.

Air Commodore.

Aircraftman 2nd Class. Lowest rank in RCAF a.k.a. “acey-deucy”, “erks”. Promotion to AC1.

Air Crew Distribution Centre.

A pilot with five confirmed enemy aircraft destroyed.

(RAF/RCAF) slang for AC2 rating Aircraftsman Second Class, the lowest rank in the RCAF.

Aircrafthand.

Atlantic Convoy Instructions (1943).
ACI also: Air Council Instructors.

A highly trained technical assistant to an artillery officer. A carry over from the British Phonetic alphabet, stands for assistant
ie: assistant gun position officer.

Anti-aircraft (A/A).

Air Chief Marshal (RAF).

Aircraftsman 1st Class.

Aircraftsman 2nd Class.

Commando training center in Scotland.

Anglican Church Merlin Roll of Honour

Airdrome Control Pilot.

Air Crew Receiving Centre.

(RAF/RCAF) aka AC2 – Aircraftmen 2nd Class.

Advanced Dressing Station. (WWI)

Aides de camp.

Air Defence of Great Britain. What the British air force was called pre 1930.

Advanced Dressing Station.

Allied Expeditionary Air Force.

Also found at

Australian Field Artillery. (WWI)

Air Force Cross.

Air fighting training unit.

Air Force Medal

Allied Force Head Quarters. Censored reports for the battlefields. They also oversaw Operation Husky as “Force 141”.

Air Force Regulations & Orders.

Auxiliary Fire Service (Established during the Blitz in England).

Advance Flying Unit. Usually located overseas, to finish the BCATP training before operational flying.

Armoured Fighting Vehicle.

(RAF) Air Gunner.

Army Group Royal Artillery.

Airbourne Interceptor consisting of a small radar set mounted in a RAF night-fighter such as the Beaufighter air craft, first used in 1940.

Wires strung for communications on poles, frequently damaged by enemy fire or carelessness. (WWI)

Accident Investigation Branch (RCAF) established in March 1942 to investigate service flying accidents.

Formed in 1911 was the first military unit of flyers (19 pilots).

(RAF) Light aircraft piloted by a Royal Artillery officer who controlled & directed artillery fire in Italy.

Air Operations Plane.

(Germ.) for ‘Operation Bullet’ where in February,1944 Heinrich Himler put re-captured POW’s in the hands of the Gestopo secret police.

Unidentified list of Attestation from a local paper of 2 Jan. year unknown

Assault Landing Craft. Smaller and less protected than a MLC.

Air Marshal.

Armed Merchant Cruiser.

(US) African National Corps. Black truck drivers in WWII.

(RAF) Reference to altitude, ie: “Angles fifteen.” Is 15,000ft.

Air Navigation School (RCAF).

Introduced in 1918 by the Germans, a bolt-action rifle which fired a 13.2mm shell that could penetrate 25mm (1”) of steel plating as a anti-personnel weapon.

Code name for the invasion of Italy.

Air Officer Commanding.

Air Observers School – Navigator training.

Armour Piercing.

(Br./Cdn.) Air Observation Post. A light aircraft used to ‘spot’ artillery fire on enemy position.

US Attack transport.

The German word for a roll-call in a POW camp.

Br. WW I nickname for German anti-aircraft fire. Adopted by the Am. in WWII.

(US) Assault Personnel Destroyer.

Ammunition Refilling Point.

Article, usually newspaper with mention of Individual

(WWI) Infantry practiced not to bunch together when under artillery attack.

Slang for the Artillery Representative.

Arrived from overseas duty

Air Service Department. (1939)

Anti-Submarine Escot Groups.

Air Speed Indicator.

Air Sea Rescue.

Air-to-Service – Vessel – A aircraft mounted radar 1st installed in RAF Coastal Command patrol bombers.

Air Transport Axillary, formed in 1940 included 166 female pilots who were able to fly various aircraft from Spitfires to bombers to RAF stations.

Air Traffic Control.

(USAAF) Air Transport Command.

Atlantic Transportation Group (aka Ferry Command).

"And they never came back" - The story of CVS students who fought and died in WWII. by: Peter N. Stanojevic - 1996

Axillary Territorial Service (The main British women’s service in WWII).

British Commando base on the west coast of Scotland.

(Br.) Assault Unit.

Air Vice-Marshal (RAF/RCAF).

Australians.

Armoured Vehicles Royal Engineers.

Anti-Submarine.

Allied Submarine Detection Investigation Committee (aka Sonar).

Air to Surface Vessel – Aircraft radar.

Anti-Submarine Warfare.

Air Transport Auxiliary. Ferried aircraft in the UK from the factories to the airfields.

Atlantic Ferry Organization. Established in 1940 to fly aircraft from North America to England.

American Volunteer Group; (RAF) also known as the “Flying Tigers”. Commanded by Chemnault in China they also fought in Burma with the RAF until the USA entered the conflict.

Air Vice Marshal.

Armoured Vehicles Royal Engineers, these would include Churchill tanks with Petard, Short range heavy motors and various bridging devices.

Absent Without Leave.

Bomb AImer

A system of blind approach using radar (RAF).

Battery Commander.

Base Ammunition Dump. (Between the 15th & 26th of July 1944, 21st Army group fired 1,158,490 shells).

Browing Automatic Rifle.

Blenheim Boy Scouts - Roll of Honour. Found at Blenheim Freedom Library

Beechwood Community - Roll of Honour. Howard Twsp., Kent Co., ON

Botany Church Roll of Honour

Units of infantry or tanks.

Bombardier.

British Air Force of Occupation.

Portable, temporary bridges used in WWII, often referred to as Meccano sets, in reference to the child’s toy.

(Br.) The combining of 2 RAF Wings into one Wing to tackle large massed German raids on England in 1940.

(Br.) Enemy aircraft.

A long pipe filled with explosive, thrust under tangles of barbed wire and exploded to clear paths for attacking infantry.

British and Allied Merchant Ship Code. A radio channel during WWII dedicated to Message traffic to convoys at sea. “Broadcasts for Allied Merchant Ships.”

A steep turn (RCAF).

Browning Automatic Rifle (.30 Caliber, 20 round magazine).

Beam Approach Training (RCAF).

British Admiralty Technical Mission.

A shoulder launched American (WWII) anti-tank weapon.

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan aka “The Plan”.

British Columbia Dragoons.

Bomber command development unit.

British Columbia Regiment.

British Canadian Recruiting Mission. A number of ‘mission’ operated between June 1917 and July 1918 recruiting British subjects living in the USA to “volunteer” to join the CEF after the Selective Service Act passed in the United States. (WWI)

German service that intercepted British coded signals. It was located at Beobachter, 72 Tirpitzuller, Berlin.

Brigade Dressing Station.

(Gr) Befehlshaber der Unterseeboute. The U-Boat Force HQ.

Bomber Development Unit.

British Empire Medal

The Naval equivalent to the MLO. The Naval officer is responsible to land with the first assault boats to clearly mark the beaches for other assault craft and to mark the routes off the beach, control traffic on the beach. The MLO does the same for attacking troops, calling in boats to evacuate wounded or troops working with the Beachmaster.

Yakking too much.

To attack a target continuously (RCAF).

British Expeditionary Force.

Bombing & Gunnery School.

British Empire Medal.

Blenheim Freedom Library & Military Museum, Blenheim, ON

French-design of aircraft field hanger, of canvas roof and sides, with a bulky Internal framework. (WWI)

Bomb Group.

(Br.) Brigadier-General – General Staff.

British Home Child - Confirmed on LAC

Bothwell Historic Book

Battalion Headquarters.

(WWI) RFC slang for the Armstrong/Whitworth FK8 aircraft.

(Dicke Berts German) A heavy German artillery piece made by Krupp, a 420mm. howitzer, over 7 meters long, transported in sections and required a day to re-assemble.

RAF/RCAF slang for Berlin, Germany.

Commonwealth term for the Chief of X-Organizations in POW camps, aka escape plans for POW’s.

(RAF) Biggles was the pilot hero in a series of 1930’s young adult novels about a young heroic pilot.

RAF/RCAF slang for a plane.

Cdn. slang (WWI) see Bivouac.

A type of lean-to shelter for two men. Two rubber groundsheets slung between two rifles stuck in the ground by their bayonets.

Historical Society of Blenheim and District, 45 Sandy Street, Blenheim, ON

Blenheim IODE Tablet of Remembrance - Blenheim, ON. On Legion Branch 185

Blenheim News Tribune

British Liberation Army (1945) aka to the British Infantry as “Burma Looms Ahead” in reference to the war in SE Asia.

The area in mid-ocean (between N. America and Europe) where merchant ships had No protection from Naval escort ships. “The Happy Time” in 1941 for German U-Boats.

A WWI injury which took you out of the conflict with no discredit, but with no permanent damage to your health. A none-fatal wound a Hindustani word for a foreign country, adopted by colonial English troops for “home”.

(Gr.) A violent campaign intended to bring about a speedy victory, ‘Lightning War’.

(WWI) April 1917 when the German Air Force focused on defeating the RFC / RNAS prior to the Battle of Arras.

(RAF) Ditching over water.

Battalion.

British (RAF) slang (WWII) for scientist doing operational research. They advised on various services navigational aids, new weapons our improvements.

An unidentified enemy aircraft (RCAF).

Power applied to an aircraft engine by throttle setting.

Slang, for a special receiving apparatus to warn a bomber pilot that an enemy aircraft as in a position to attack.

(RAF) slang for a surprise attack by the enemy.

Allied slang for German anti-personnel mine that exited the ground to explode at about head height.

A climb over a particular point – the aircraft flew short legs in the form of a square.

Bletchley Park. The British operational Intelligence Centre (WWII), home of the submarine Tracking room and Enigma decoding work etc.

Base personnel depot.

British Press Office. A front for the British Secret Service in Switzerland.
Bren gun / ‘Bren’ – 303 Caliber light machine gun.

303 Caliber light machine gun.

Instructions before a mission or sortie (RCAF).

(Br.) slang for RAF aircrew.

Blenheim Presbyterian Church - Roll of Honour. Found at Blenheim Freedom Library, 27 George Street, Blenheim, ON Feb. 2009

Blenheim United Church - Roll of Honour

Bomber Support (RCAF)

Blenheim - Seniors Fair 19/06/2009 - Family

"The First 200 Years A HIstory of Blenheim & South Harwich" ON By Alvin Armstrong

Bomber Safety Line. The line infantry was not to cross when strategic bombing was going on.

Battery Sgt. Major

Botany Howard Road United Church 1837 - 1883 Roll of Honour

Burma / Siam Railway.

Blessed Sacrament War Veterans - Names found at Blessed Sacrament RC School, Chatham, ON. Published in Kent OGS Paper November 1986

“Bathythermography” – The changing temperature of the ocean mass in relation to depth. To better hunt U-Boats.

Bothwell Times - Newspaper from Bothwell, ON

Bothwell Times - Roll of Honour, Published 16 Dec. 1942

"Back Tracking" - Written by Kate Clendenning for the Blenheim Historical Society. (Often published in the Blenheim News Tribune)

Units making up artillery brigades, a battery normally of six guns of field artillery was four guns before 1917.

Befehlshaber der Untersee boote. The German U-Boat HQ.

Practice flying over large British cities to evade searchlights and night-fighters.

(Germ.) Armed guards in POW camps with guard dogs.

British slang for a bomber. (WWI)

(RAF) To push engine to max power.

(RCAF) Coordination of contact between aircraft in position over a battlefield and the troops on the ground. A flight could be “whistled up” when needed to support infantry.

Canadian Aviation Corps. Established in 1914 and Canada’s air force with two pilots and one aircraft and one mechanic.

Canadian Army - Discharge Certificate

Confidential Admiralty Fleet Orders.

Catapult Armed Merchant ship. A plane could be launched but not retrieved.

RAF/RCAF slang for being killed in action.

A 500 wt. explosive mine, often employed in counter-mine actions. (WWI)

Canadian Army Pacific Force - Enlistments at No. 1 District Depot London

Captain

Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit.

Canadian Army Service Corps.

Canadian Army Service Corps. - Motor Transport Section

Casualty Evacuation.

Canadian Active Service Force. (Landed in Brest, France 12 & 13 June, 1940 and retired
from Cherbourg, Brest and Bordeaux 15 June, 1940).

Confined to barracks (punishment).

Cape Breton Highlanders Regt.

"Canadians in the Battle of the Atlantic" By Larry Gray ISBN 13: 978-1-89464-66-4

Chatham Baptist Church - Roll of Honour, Chatham Baptist Church "Centennial 1850-1950" Book

Combined Bomber Offensive.

Canadian Base Reinforcement Depot.

Counter Battery Staff Officer. (WWI)

Centennial Chatham 1895-1895 - John Rhodes

Corvettes Convoy Veterans of WWII Tell Their True Stories - By Mac Johnston (1994 McGraw-Hill) ISBN 0-07-551381-1HC)

Campo Cencentramento Priqionieri Guera – Italian POW camp.

Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp located at St. Aubin-Saint-Vaast.

Casualty Clearing Station. (WWI)

Combined Chiefs of Staff (WWII) headed by Churchill, Roosevelt and Eisenhower.

673 Canadian Lieutenants volunteered to serve in British Divisions in 1944 – 45 due to a shortage of trained Subalterns. Service number for these officers begin with CDN. 70% of these volunteers were either killed or wounded (approximately 470).

Canadian Scottish Regiment.

Canadian Air Publication. “The Principles of Instruction No.1 Book for BCAPT instructors.

Canadian Army Postal Corps.

Canadian Army Pacific Force. Would have been used in the war against Japan if the war had not ended with the atomic bomb.

Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit.

Canadian Active Service Force. The Canadian Army Overseas had 58,000 men by Sept.1939. The 1st Canadian Division of 18,376 would go to the United Kingdom.

Counter Acoustic Torpedo. A defensive device to divert an acoustic torpedo (GNAT).

Canadian Army Training Centre.

(RAF/RCAF) A badge in the shape of a gold caterpillar with ruby eyes to signify having bailed out of an aircraft to save their life – worn on the uniform it was donated by the Irvin Air Chutes of Great Britain.

Cdn. Slang for the German MG 42 machinegun with a rate of fire of 1200 rounds per minute. AKA a “rubber gun”.

Commander – in –Chief Western Approaches.

Commodore Commanding Canadian Ships (UK).

Centennial Chronicle of Kent Doctors - By Victor Lauriston. Published 1967

Commodore Commanding Newfoundland Force.

Canadian Convalescent Receiving Depot.

Canadian Divisional Artillery. (WWI)

Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column. Horse drawn transport. (WWI)

Canadian Div. Trench Mortar Group. (WWI)

Canadian Field Artillery.

Christ Church Memorial Plaque

Christ Church, Chatham, ON - Roll of Honour -Volunteers transcribed by Garna Argenti 4 March 2009

Christ Church, Chatham, ON - Roll of Honour

Chalmers Church, Chatham Twsp. - Roll of Honour

Chath6am Collegiate Institute - Roll of Honour Found in "ACTA COLLEGII" Year Book Spring 194

City of Chatham Roll of Honour - Found at the McGeorge Building, Grand Avenue East, Chatham ON 5 Dec. 2008

Charing Cross United Church - Roll of Honour - From CDN 17/06/1944

Croix de Guerre

Chatham Daily News

Article From the Memoriams in the Chatham Daily News

Article Found in the Obituaries of the Chatham Daily News

Chief Deck Officer

Chatham Daily Planet

Photograph of the cemetery of an individuals gravesite would be located in

Canadian Forestry Corps.

Chief flying control officer.

Chatham Fire FIghters - Field Day Booklet 1944 - Soldiers who received smokes from the Fire Fighters

Chief Flying Instructor (RCAF).

Craftsman (Royal Canadian Electrical & Mechanical Engineers)

Central Flying School (WWI) at Upavon, England.

Canadian General Hospital.

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

Canadian Garrison Regiment

Code name for Britain’s radar network (aka CH) along the south coast, operational in 1937 it could detect the number, altitude and course of air craft up to 100 miles. The US. Coined the term ‘Radar’.

(Br.) Chief of the General Staff.

RCAF for chatter, rapid talking over the radio.

Slang for La Regiment de la Chaudiere.

Fed up to the teeth.

Flight-Sergeant (RAF – Slang) or senior ground-crew NCO.

(WWI – slang) A conspicuous pre-attack preparation, followed by a rolling artillery barrage to deceive the enemy and to see where they would move.

Chain Home Low – code name for British radar stations designed for low flying Aircraft limited to 100 miles. Also see "Chain Home".

(WWI) First used by the German army on the western font on the 22nd of April, 1915. A choking gas first dispensed from cylinders and was later uses in artillery shells.

Slang (RAF) for someone who is ‘windy’ and acts un-heroically.

(Navy) The Atlantic ocean was divided at 35 degree West longitude in WWII as the
boundary of the Change of Operational Control – British east of that and USA west of that.

RAF slang for aircrew losses.

(WWI) Br. Central Information Bureau. Controlled and directed Allied aircraft to targets on the ground or in the air. Established in 1918.

Canadian Infantry Brigade.

(Br. WWI) Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

Camera operating in conjunction with, helpful in confirming claims.

Slang for takeoffs and landings.

A RAF term for: a low-level search & destroy attack over northern France by fighters accompanied by bombers attacking targets of opportunity. Beside escorting the bombers, the fighters used them to decoy German aircraft up for a fight. Also see “Rhubarbs”.

Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit. (ie: Aldershot Military District in the UK).

Is generally 45 minutes later than ‘nautical twilight.

Chatham-Kent Citizen Newspaper

Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society - Chatham, ON

Chatham-Kent Public Library - Chatham Branch

Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute (Researcher Anne Fisher)

Canadian Labour Battalion

Slang for Clouds (RAF).

Canadian Light Horse.

Air speed indicator.

(WWI) The soldiers set of issued clothing was inspected by an officer, repaired And deficiencies made up.

RAF slang for the Meteorological Officer.

Canadian Merchant Navy

Canadian Mounted RIfles

Corps of Military Stasff Clerks

“Canadian North Atlantic” – Area of operation of the RCN in 1943 after the Washington Conference approx. 42N – 40W.

Central Medical Board (British).

Canadian Military Head Quarters – London, England. (WWII)

Canadian Naval Mission Overseas. It was located in London, England.

Chief of Naval Staff (RCN).

Commanding Officer.

Church of the Advent - Ridgetown

Commanding Officer, Atlantic Coast (RCN).

(Br. Slang) More assumption than fact.

Chief of Combined Operations.

(Merchant Navy) Slang for the two corner ships in the 1st row of a convoy’s columns.

Combined Operations Headquarters.

Colonel 6th level of commissioned rank in the army.

(WWI) slang for RFC action communiqués.

(USN) The Combat Intelligence Centre at the Main Navy in Washington, DC.

Highly trained, lightly armed elite troops designed for raiding enemy shore facilities. First used in WWII when the British raided Lofton Island, Norway 4/03/41.

Composite food ration packs (Br.).

Concentration Area.

Pinpoint artillery fire. Also see “Stonks”.

An explosive (nitroglycerine) filled 60 meter hose launched from a universal (Bren) carrier by a rocket used to destroy enemy barbed wire.

A radar-operated master searchlight locks on to a bomber and is joined swiftly by other search lights which hold the aircraft in a cone of light, exposing it to ack-ack and night fighters.

White condensation trail of a high-flying aircraft’s wing tip while flying at high altitudes.

4,000lb. high explosive British bomb.

Slang for the isolation cell in a POW camp.

WWII Italian Armed Forces High Command.

Navigation system used by German U-Boats.

(WWI) Sections of horse drawn guns moved forward with the infantry to provide close support. Aka. Mobile batteries.

Aka Lice.

Commander Of Port.

Combined Operations Development Centre. Located at Portsmouth, England, formed in 1936. Combined Operations Development Centre. Located at Portsmouth, England, formed in 1936.

Church of the Redeemer - Highgate

(US) Enlisted Navy Medical Personnel.

Chief of Staff to Supreme Allied Commander.

Canadian Officers Training Corps.

Senior Petty Officer of the ship.

Abbreviation for Company.

Canadian Postal Corp.

Chatham Police Force - Sgt. and Constables given leave to join the military for the duration - CPF Book 1835-1985

Corporal.

Chief Petty Officer.

Command Post Officer (Battery).

Company Quartermaster Sgt.

Commander Royal Artillery, Brigadier rank.

1st Canadian Radar Battery. Established 22/09/45 to track looping German mortar shells using radar to calculate the trajectory for counter-battery fire.

The rapid deployment of artillery.

Slang for aircraft.

Cercy Forest in France, a landmark for pilots in N. France, also bristled with flak guns.

Top look-out point for watch-keeping at sea. Also a famous officers canteen in St. John’s, NFLD. During WWII ( Still there in 2011).

Central School (Chatham ON) Roll Honour WWII, Found at C-K Museum, Chatham 13 Jan. 2009

Cedar Springs School from "Cedar Springs on Parade...The Story of Our Community"

Close Support Line.

Company Sergeant Major.

Br. (WWI) Civil Service Rifles a unit of the London Battalion.

Canadian Survey Regt. (WWII)

(WWI) Communication Trench.

(WWII) Ceased Training in the BCATP “washed out” of training, failure.

Canadian Training Squadron.

Chatham This Week

Conversion Unit. Where air crew received specific training on the aircraft they would fly.

Cambridge University Air Squadron. (pre-WWII)

(RCAF) Variation on a theme of admiration.

Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. Aka (slang) EBGO – “Every Bastard Got One”. Whether in combat or not. Also see V.M.K.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canadian Women’s Axillary Air Force. Founded 21/07/1941. Later became RCAF-WD.

Canadian Woman’s Army Corps. Founded 27/06/1941, by wars end there would be 22,000 enlistments.

Commonwealth War Grave Commission

Continuous wave wireless communication. (WWI)

Days following D-Day (D+1 = 7 June).

Deputy Assistant Director of Veterinary Services. (WWI)

Desert Air Force, RAF wings that operated in North Africa and the Middle east in 1942-43. Also supported actions in Sicily and Italy.

A ‘sulpha’ drug used in the early years of WWII, before penicillin was developed.

District Assistant Provost Marshal (RCAF) aka Air Force Police.

RAF code word for aircraft in distress “SOS”; also used during FIDO landings.

(Br.) Director of Anti U-Boat Division.

Long range forays deep into enemy territory using ‘drop-tank’ Mosquitoes.

Dover Centre United Church - Roll of Honour

(Slang) for German land mine that exploded when stepped on showering splinters straight upwards – thus the name!

Flying without engine power.

Navigating by use of a compass and time, following a course at a given speed for a fixed length of time.

Date Deceased

Duplex Drive Sherman tanks developed by British General Sir Percy Hobart on of the many “funnies” he created which included Buffaloes, Alligators, Weasels and DUWK, all to move troops over water and give some protection on land.

High frequency, shore based navigational system (aka. QM) accurate to 100’ at 100 Miles.

(RCN) General purpose Able Seaman.

(Br.) Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships (a merchant ship equipped with anti-aircraft guns).

(Gr.) slang for the B-17 Bomber.

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Defensive Fire, a pre-arranged offensive enemy target for artillery fire of up to 36O rounds in 3 minutes. Only a Brigadier or higher ran could order these ups.

Direction Finding (RCAF).

Distinguished Flying Cross (issued to commissioned ranks).

Directional Finding Homing (RCAF).

Distinguished Flying Medal (issued to non-commissioned ranks).

(WWI) Divisional Gas Officer. In charge of gas training and inspection of gas helmets and respirators.

Died in Enemy AIr Raid - Example the bombing of the Metropole Hotel, London, England May 1943

Slang for Army Prison.

Hindu word meaning ‘small boat’. Often referred to as a ‘life-raft’.

Discharged from Military Service

Discharged from Military SErvice./Medically unfit.

Pilots’ waiting hut/club room when on readiness.

Making a forced landing in the sea.

Army Division.

Divisional Machine Gun Officer.

Divisional Headquarters.

Drummer

Department of Munitions and Supply. (Cdn. WWII)

Dorothy Maris Scrapbook collected over WWII from her son Dale

Dresden News - Newspaper

Duty Nobly Done - The Official History of the Essex & Scottish Regiment

Died of Air Accident

Died of Natural Injury

Died on Active Service - The cause of death has not been discovered by my research (JRH).

Died of Accidental Injury

Died of Disease.

Died of Injury

Aerial combat.

Died of Natural Causes

Chad, when boxed in by flak.

RAF slang for the German V-1 flying bomb (WII). Jet engine propelled with a maximum speed of 400 MPH, it carried a 2,000 lb. warhead, it had a 18’ wing-span. Aka. V-1.

Died of Sickness

Important to ships in convoy station keeping. The scale measures the height of waves and the swell of the sea from 1 to 10 degrees. It is also known as the International Sea Swell Scale. Example ‘wind sea’ 0 = calm 9 = +14 meter waves ‘swell’ 0 = no swell to 9 = confused.

Died of Wounds.

Driver, Motor Transport. (Br.)

(RCAF) Day / Night Training, was an eye-shade worn by the pilot, like a welders helmet That was dark on the top but allowed the glow of the instruments at AFU training.

Discharged Physically Unfit

Dresden Roll of Honour - "The Story of Fresden 1825-1967" By Alda L. Hyatt 1967

Dead Reckoning. Flight path without instrument confirmation.

Gr. (WWI) Artillery observation balloons that were tethered by steel cables connected to a wench.

(RCAF) Lagging behind, a straggler in formation.

Dead reckoning navigation.

Parachute ripcord.

Despatch Rider Liaison Rider.

Aerial targets for gunnery practice training.

Dispatch Rider.

Daily Routine Orders.

Term used to describe a method of intimidating or disrupting enemy activity.

Distinguished Service Cross (Naval only).

The Story of Dresden 1825-1967

Distinguished Service Medal (Naval Ratings only).

Distinguished Service Order.

Dresden Times-Newspaper

RAF slang for faulty equipment.

Incorrect or ‘bad’ information. In RCAF “not worth a damn.”

An individual who generally gave bad information.

Abbreviation for 2 ½ ton amphibious truck, six-wheeled truck capable of six knots in water. Aka – Duck. First used in Operation Husky.

Short for Durchgangslager A transit campfor air force POW’s Interrogation center at Oberusel, near Frankfurt-am-Main.

Discharged - Unfit for Military Service under existing standards

Discharged - Unlikely to become an efficient soldier.

(Br.) Slang for a ‘slit-trench'.

Driver

Directorate of Warfare Training (1943 Ottawa).

Drop Zone.

Common abbreviation for enemy aircraft.

German (WWII) Motor Torpedo Boats.

Easter Air Command; established 15/09/38 eventually became Maritime Air Command.

Enemy Air Raid

Empire Air Training Plan. Pre – BCATP in June 1953.

Loyal Edmonton Regt.

Evergreen Cemetery-Blenheim, ON

Eastern Desert Force. (Br.)

Elementary Flying Training School (RCAF).

Escort Group (Navy).

Chemical tolet in British bombers.

Slang for the Messerschmitt ME 109E German fighter.

(Gr.) Code machine for encrypting messages.

Entertainments National Services Association. A British entertainment group that put on shows for servicemen & women.

(RCN) Engine Room Artificer.

Any ground crew airman or technician.

French air force fighting formation (WWI) of six planes plus pilots and ground crew.

A French bar in WWI.

Erie Street United Church-Roll of Honour, RIdgetown

Estimated Target Area (RAF) The bombing of a target based on time and distance from the start point when the target was obscured by heavy cloud.

European Theatre of Operations.

(WWI) Field Ambulance.

Fleet Air Arm.

France British Aviation Flyingboats from WWI.

French for riflemen.

Forward Aid Post. The most advanced post where casualties could receive treatment.

Enormous bundles of densely packed tree branches used a ‘fording material’ to aid tanks by providing a causeway over rivers or large streams.

Field Artillery Tractor, aka ‘Quad’. In WWI it was Field Artillery Tactics.

Aka ‘chores, carrying parties’, work that supported life in the trenches. Would also include ‘engineering work’ – digging or improving trenches, burying phone lines; ‘wiring parties’ repairing or improving barb-wire defenses, almost all of these fatigues would be done at might.

(Gr.) Grenade thrower. (WWII)

Flight Commander (RNAS rank).

Flying Control Officer.

Forward Control Post – For air support and control.

Forward Defence Line / Localities.

Fighter Directing Officer. A Naval Lieut. Who flew with an RAF pilot catapulted from a ‘CAM’; his job was to direct the pilot back to the ship using R/T.

(RAF) Flight Engineer.

Flight Engineering School. Located at Alymer, ON. The school graduated 2000 Flight Engineers in the BCATP.

(Gr.WWII) Sergeants and Corporals generally led in combat while officers planned actions.

POW slang for German guards who specialized in uncovering escape plans.

(Gr. – WWII) ‘Fortress Europe’ as Hitler called his western wall against invasion.

German for ‘magic fire’ for a sudden and heavy artillery barrage fired by allied gunners in Sicily.

Free French of the Interior (WWII) French resistance fighters, aka “Marquis”, ‘underground’.

Allied air-dropped acoustic torpedo the Mark XXIV, developed by the US Navy and went into anti-submarine use in 1943.

Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation. An apparatus made up of pipes just above ground level with jets along each side of a airfield runway when pressurized with gasoline and ignited heated the area above the runway to disperse the fog for landings. Ignited by a ground-crewman.

RAF/RCAF fighter attack formation two leaders (shooters) + two wingman (eyeball).

(RCAF) An absolutely stupid clot.

A name first given to the conflict of 1914 – 18 (Great War) by Charles a Count Repington in 1920.

Flying Instructor School. Opened at Trenton, ON. 3/08/42.

(Br.) An early-warning radar device.

Flight Lieutenant.

Flight Sergeant

Enemy A/A gun fire from the ground.

(RCAF) Not well.

2 to 6 aircraft.

Flight Sargeant – 3rd level of non-commissioned officer.

Flight Lieutenant – 3rd level of commissioned officer.

Aircraft on fire.

German Air Corps.

(WWI) slang for the British BE2c. aircraft because of it’s olive-drab service colouring.

Fusiliers Mont Royal. They were part of the 6th Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division after D-Day.

Flight Sergeant.

Flight Sub-Lieutenant (RNAS starting rank for a pilot).

Flying Officer.

Forward Observation Officer – Bombardment. A Royal Artillery officer similar to FOO but directing naval bombardment.

Forward part of the ship – seaman’s mess.

Permanent Naval Assault Force used by British, Canadian and American forces.

Flying Officer – 2nd level of commissioned officer.

Forward Observation Officer (artillery spotter).

British planning group for Operation Husky (Invasion of Italy).

(Am.) Forward Observer.

A towed noisemaker used to attract acoustic torpedoes away from convoy escort ships.

German tank mounted gun.

Slang for 280mm. German costal gun shells.

(Br.) Slang for a German soldier.

The holder that attaches the bayonet scabbard to the soldiers belt.

Field Security.

Field Security.

(Br.) Field Service Regulations.

1st Special Service Force, Canadian / American specially trained as paratroops and Commando ship to shore assaults. Served in Aleutian Island, Italy and Southern France.

Forming Up Point. Where a unit gathers in preparation for an attack.

(Am.) First US Army Group.

(U.S.) Chief of Operations.

Chief of Supply.

Group of enemy aircraft. Also a bomber formation with three lead aircraft flying in a "V" formation with the bomber stream following.

Ships kitchen.

Cdn. Slang for game of craps played with dice, a favorite with soldiers.

WWII anti-tank explosive (Br).

RAF/RCAF slang for a mission to drop sea-mines. Also see Planting and Vegetables.

Slang for Sturmont, Dundas & Gengarry Highlanders.

Gosnell Cemetery - Highgate, ON

Group Captain.

Government Code & Cypher School.

(RAF) Ground Controlled Interception – used to guide night-fighters to intercept enemy aircraft.

General Duty ie: Orderly Clerk – GD, not specialized.

A 1942 early navigational radar aid for heavy bombers, was improved in 1943 by the MkII version. A high frequency system it lacked range but was useful in the English Channel. Ships used its 400 yard accuracy to locate targets on the bottom of the Channel. (aka QH).

Slang (pronounced jen ) information you want on a particular subject ie. “What is the gen on the weather?”

(RCAF slang) for “Auto-Pilot” control.

Gun Position Officer’s Vehicle.

(Gr.) Equates to a British Major-General in rank.

(Gr.) Equates to a US. Army Brigadier-General.

Slang for a person with excellent qualifications.

(Germ.) Comparable to a RAF “Group” of about 120 aircraft of the same type.

Geheime Staatspolizei Nazi German State security police.

Don’t be a clot (don’t be stupid).

Affirmative, with emphasis.

Morning-after greeting.

Cdn. slang for Governor General Horse Guard (Tank Unit in WWII).

“Good God How Gorgeous”.

see Gee.

Historically it was a gentle slope of ground in front of a fortification, in the Great war it was known as ‘No Man’s Land’ between enemy trenches.

Grave Marker as found in a CWGC Cemetery

Grave Marker Photographed by Jerrel R. Hind Collection

Grave Marker Photo - Found in a Kent County Cemetery

Auto-pilot in a heavy bomber (RCAF).

General Officer Commanding.

(RAF) About to crash on land or water.

(RCAF) Going into London [England] for unspecified purposes.

(RAF/RCAF) slang for a plane and crew lost on a sortie.

Medals.

Slang for German guards in a POW camp.

Large German bomber of WWI.

(Br.) Stethoscope like device used to listen for the sounds of tunneling/mining, through the ground.

Slang (RAF/RCAF) for being shot down and killed in action.

Someone had a bad scare.

German “God with Us".

WWI slang for the Gravenstafel Road from the Menin Gate to the Ypres front.

Nickname for the 48th Highlanders of Canada.

German naval acoustic torpedo. (“Zaunkonig” German aka T5).

General Officer Commanding.

RAF slang for being shot down.

General Purpose.

Gun Position Officer (artillery).

Government Post Office (England). Beside delivering the mail they installed telephone lines in the United Kingdom.

(WWI) Grand Quartier General. The general headquarters of the French army 1914-19.

Gathering Our Heroes Survey - Information from individual or family started in October 2009

General reconnaissance.

This was the 600 to 800 mile swath of ocean S. W. of Iceland that in 1943 that could not be covered by land based aircraft to protect convoys from U-boats.

(Grm.) “The Big Show” – A major air attack in Dec. 1944 when the German army attacked the US Army in the Ardennes, Fr.

Navy slang for a very high and heavy ocean wave, may reach 75 feet high.

RAF slang for a Group Captain.

Br. (WWI) Grave Registration Unit.

Basic German flying unit.

Graves Registration Service.

Gunshot Wound

The artillery regiment equivalent to a private.

Gibraltar to USA fast westbound convoy.

Navy. Also see PCO.

Gibraltar to USA slow convoy.

H-Hours following at intervals after the first hour of landing.

A highly secret navigational radar developed in 1943 (Br.) to replace the “Gee” radar. It
could read through thick cloud an give a picture of the terrain below. H2S was onboard aircraft.

Heavy Anti-Aircraft.

Heavy Artillery Group. Heavy and long range artillery in WWI.

Slang for Halifax bomber.

Allied aircrew referred to the Ruhr Valley in Germany because of the heavy German flack and air cover, a dangerous spot to fly.

In the Armoured Corps ”harbor” was slang for “an administrative area out of direct enemy fire.

(RFC) slang for the B.E and R.E. 8 British aircraft in WWI.

Hasting & Prince Edward Regiment.

(RCAF) Exhortation in the air and on the ground.

A Canadian small anti-tank mine, 2.25 lbs. could be shallowly buried or thrown from a vehicle.

HIstory of Bothwell Book

Heavy Conversion Unit, training on large bombers. The ‘finishing school’ before flying operational flights. Shortened to CU.

High Explosive.

(Navy) Hydrophone Effect. Following and attacking a submarine by sound alone.

Ships toilets.

(WWI) A full pack and kit weighing at least 70 pounds, not including a weapon.

Shot down, killed.

Gr. Literally a ‘home shot’ the German equivalent of a Blighty One.

Harassing Fire (artillery).

High-frequency Direction Finding aka. “Huff Duff”.

History of the Glenwood Community By Percy Lloyd (C-K Library)

The temporary placement of artillery in the field of conflict.

(Cdn.) Slang for a German soldier. (WWI)

Time set for attack.

Highgate Monitor - Weekly newspaper published in Highgate, Orford Twsp., Kent Co., ON

His / Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship.

Heavy Machine Gun.

His/Her Majesty’s Ship (Royal Navy).

Hostilities Only. Enlisted into service for the duration of the war. Not professional personal.

Maj. General Percy Hobert formed and trained a secret armoured force for the invasion of France. They designed a number of tank varients such as: the DD (Duplex Drive tank, Flail tank to clear mines and the “Crocodile – flame-thrower tank.

German land mines with wooden cases that were difficult to detect.

Halifax Ocean Meeting Point.

(Am.) Same as Br. Air Observation Post.

Hastings and Prince Edward County Regt.

Slang for a Howitzer gun. (WWI)

Any headquarters.

Heroes Remembered Veteran's-Affairs Canada. -Veteran Interviews

Higher Submarine Detector (Naval rating).

Holy Trinity Anglican Church Cemetery-Morpeth

Holy Trinity Anglican Church - Roll of Honour

(WWI) Heavy Trench Mortar. Usually 6-inch “Newtons” later in 1918 would include 9.45-Inch.

Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Chatham, ON - From CDN 21 June, 1944.

German aircraft.

Heavy Utility Personnel carrier. (4x4 station wagon).

High Velocity gun used by the Germans in WWI.

Harwich Women's Institute - Roll of Honour Found in Harwich Women's Institute Book found at Kent OGS Room, C-K Library, Chatham, ON

Fast Convoy leaving Halifax, NS.

Indicated Air Speed.

Intelligence Assault Unit. First in action use as No.10 Platoon, 30 Commando / 30 A.U. at Dieppe, 19/08/42.

Identification Friend or Foe. An electronic signal sent out by returning aircraft as they approached England (RAF).

Instructors in gunnery (Artillery).

International Harvester (Chatham Plant) - Roll of Honour, Found on pg. 1141 of "International to Navistar - Commemorative Book 1987

In Khaki - Blenheim Enlistment Book

Special sights used to facilitate night firing.

5 rounds per gun per minute for 3 minutes by Field Artillery. Also see Rapid.

Organized originally for operations in Norway during WWII from companies of Regular Army units.

The term used when artillery gunners can’t see their target.

Interrogating Officer, debriefed returning aircrew. (WWII)

Intelligence Officer.

IODE Books of Remembrance - Chatham Kent Museum, Chatham, ON

IODE Books of Remembrance - Catherine McVean Chapter, found at C-Kl Service Centre, Dresden, ON

IODE-Information Sheet

IODE Books of Remembrance - Kent Regiment Enlistments 1939-1940

IODE No Photo

IODE Photo

IODE Catherine McVean Photo

(WWI) Scrap.

(RCAF) Chad, in preface to the real gen.

(Germ.) Description of Allied troops skill at ‘field-craft” and small group night-infiltration.

(Gr.) Enemy aircraft. (WWII)

(WWI) slang for marching in single file.

Infantry Brigades.

(RCAF) Sticking your neck out.

"Index to Overseas Deaths of Ontario Servicemen and Servicewomen-1947" By Bruce Thomley & Clifford Collier - OGS 2006

The Irish Regiment of Canada.

(WWI) Hard tack (biscuits & canned corned-beef. Also known as ‘field rations’.

(Br.) Inter-Service Topographical Department. Developed maps and plans for raids.

Slang for Identity Tags. (Cdn.) aka –‘Dog Tags’.

(RCAF) Initial Training Course.

Initial Training School, Basic Navigator training (RCAF).

Initial Training Wing – first phase of air crew training.

Joint Air Training Plan.

RCAF slang for "Jesus Christ's Liason Officer" aka the Padre of any denomination.

Joint Chiefs of Staff.

(Gr.) “Hunting Group” a combining of four ‘Jasta’ to gain air superiority of an area. (WWI)

(Gr.) Refers to fighter aircraft like the Bf 109. (WWII)

(Gr.) “Hunting packs” equivalent to a RFC / RNAS ‘Fighter Sqd. Introduced in 1916, usually consisting of 14 aircraft. (WWI)

WWI slang for fine or good.

(Gr.) Fighter squadron. (WWI)

Joint Air Training Plan (British Commonwealth).

Lieutenant in the Indian army.

Slang for any German.

(Br.) Joint Intelligence Command (Naval / Military / Air Force).

(Cdn.) Slang for the second-in-command on a Corvette.

RAF/RCAF slang for taking evasive action.

(Gr.) Slang for Allied aircraft in WWII.

M1941 Johnson Machine Gun. Semi-automatic or Full-auto, 25 round clip rate of fire of 200 – 600 rounds per minute.

(WWI) To describe a particular method of intimidating or disrupting enemy activity.

Standardized assault orders. The ‘J’ is in reference to “Jubilee” the code name for the raid on Dieppe, France in August 1942.

(Gr.) “Wingman” in the Luftwaffe.

(Gr.) “Battle for the Emperor” aka: Operation Michael in the spring of 1918.

(Gr.) For an improvised battle group, tactically self-contained group of all arms, infantry, artillery, armor and supports.

(Gr.) bomber aircraft.

German Private soldier.

(Br.) Slang: Trusty.

(Br.) Kite Baloon Section. Usually located 2 – 5 miles behind the front lines to spot the fall of artillery shells. (WWI)

Kent County Family Almanac - CFCO Radio Broadcasts 15/02/1945 to 11/10/1945

Kent County - Roll of Honour (Officers & Men in Kent County who have made the Supreme Sacrifice 1917 (Kent HIstorical Society)

Kent Historical Society Book 1917

German Luftwaffe’s ‘Pathfinder Group of WWII.'

Launched depth charges from the port and starboard sides of allied war ship.

King’s Regulations Canada.

(Gr.) A wedge and Kettle maneuver to split and attack a force and trap the enemy parts.

(Gr.) A sporting term meaning to surround a force and drive it outwards.

A naval term for a hot drink ‘like’ a coco. A thick base of cocoa to which had to be added just the right amount of hot water, milk and sugar. A mainstay for watch keepers at sea.

Killed in Action.

Killed in Action.

Slang for an enlisted seaman.

Slang for the uniform worn by Cdn. Soldiers in WWII.

Located near Rhyl, Wales, A roit of Canadian troops in March 1919 resulted in five killed and 23 injured.

British slang for any aircraft or one’s own aircraft.

Dried milk product in WWII. The cans were used to make many items used in the “Great Escape” of POW’s in WWII. (KLIM is MILK spelled backwards).

(Br.) slang for exhausted / tired.

Short for Krieg Gefangenen, German for POW’s.

Kitchen Patrol.

Kent Regiment Machine Gun - renamed Kent Regiment 1941

Slang for German soldier.

(Gr.) for POW’s who called themselves “kriegies”.

Kent Regiment Association - Membership LIst 25 May, 1964

Kent Regiment - Leamington Platoon from unidentified newspaper dated 9/01/1941

King’s Regulations & Admiralty Instructions.

A petrol / Phosphorus mixture used in Russian flamethrowers. When used in glass bottles and thrown by infantry at German tanks in WWII they were known as “Molotov Cocktails”.

A leaf-shaped 18” long fighting knife issued to Gurkha riflemen.

A Russian tank of WWII of 52 tons.

Krzyz Walecznych (Polish Cross of Valour).

Navy slang for a hot drink made from a block of coarse chocolate, scoops of sugar and canned milk served very hot.

Tank parking lot.

Leading Air Craftsman

Landing Craft Assault. A 41ft. wooded boat carrying a maximum of 30 troops.

Lost at Sea (WW 1 term)

(RCAF) Leading aircraftsman, equal to a Corporal in the army.

Library and Archives Canada - Ottawa, Canada

LIbrary Archives of Canada - Full Military FIle

Leading aircraftwoman.

Light Aid Detachment. Did major repairs to equipment in the field.

Light Aid Detachment Officer.

Lance Bomadier

Lance Corporal

Law, Discipline, Administration & Organization.

The precursor of the SAS, served in North Africa, first commander David Stirling.

(Gr.) A Germen Soldier – equivalent of “Tommy” (Br.), “Poilu (Fr.) or “Doughboy” (Am.).

(Gr.) Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler – 1st SS Battalion.

(WWI) RNAS slang for the American Curtis H.12 Flying Boat.

Lost At Sea.

Leading Air Woman.

Legacy of Buxton

Landing Bardge.

Landing Craft Assault. A 41ft. wooded boat carrying a maximum of 30 troops.

Landing Craft Equipment.

Light Coastal Forces. Naval ships such as Motor Gun Boats, Torpedo Boats and launches that were all fast and light.

Landing Craft Flak. Armed with 4 double barreled 2 lb. guns plus 10 double barreled 20 mm Oerlikon guns for anti-aircraft defense.

Landing Craft Gun-Armed (USN).

Landing Craft Infantry.

Landing Craft Mechanical/Mechanized. A 50ft. steel vessel usually carrying one tank or 100 men.

Landing Craft Obstacle Clearance Unit.

Landing Craft Personnel.

Landing Craft Rockets.

Lance Corporal

Landing Craft Tank.

Landing Craft Transport, Assault.

Landing Craft Transport, Rocket.

Landing Craft Vehicles.

Landing Craft Vehicles & Personnel.

(Br.) Local Defence Volunteer, the forerunner of the Veteran’s Guard or Home Guard.

Someone who is in the forces and wants out or does not want to join.

Prior to WWI and into 1914 the term referred to French Infantry who had adopted red trousers as their uniform. Later replaced by the term “Poilu”.

(Gr.) Demonstration unit.

(WWI – slang) Reference to the Khaki kilts worn by the Canadian Scottish 16th Battalion to protect the tartan.

Invent by Jock Lewes (SAS) aka a “Sticky bomb”. A deadly incendiary and blast charge made of Thermite and a plastic explosive, first used in 1941 against grounded German aircraft attacked by SAS troopers.

(Am.) Lieutenant 1st Class.

Lenover Family HIstory - Found in Kent Branch OGS Library, Chatham, ON

London Free Press - London, ON

Light Infantry.

(Gr.) Airborne radar sets in night-fighters used to locate Allied aircraft.

Lieutenant

Smaller caliber trench mortar. (WWI)

(RCAF) Not wasting any time.

Slang for English soldier.

Aka 1st Canadian Division identified by a patch of red on the left shoulder. Begun in WWI.

Legion Memorial Field - Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham, ON

Lack of Moral Fiber. [a.k.a. cowardice in the face of the enemy]. A much hated term used by the RAF & RCAF to describe battle fatigue and was put in a man’s record. It may also include up to 180 days of detention for NCO’s and Cashiering from the service for an officer.

Light machine gun.

Legion Magazine - "Last Post" List of deceased Veteran who were members of the Royal Canadian Legion from the website.

(Br.) slang for the Lancaster bomber.

"Legacy of Buxton" by Arlie C. Robbins - A listing of enlistments from North Buxton WWII

Left Out of Battle. Begun during the Great War this practice left a number of officers and other ranks behind to make a core of experienced troops should the main unit be decimated. In WWII it was a % of a unit as reserves.

Last Post Death Notice - Royal Canadian Legion notice for inclusion in the Legion Magazine

Last Post Fund-Research compiled in 2009 for unmarked graves at the Legion Memorial Field - Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham, ON

Low-frequency navigational system, the signal followed the curvature of the earth. Long range navigation used over the Atlantic ocean.

William Joyce. British traitor, who made wartime propaganda for Germany. He was executed in 1946.

Naval term for non-commissioned ratings.

Loyal Edmonton Regiment.

"Lambton Remembers-The people of Lambton Co. who made the supreme sacrifice:-Lambton Branch OGS

Long Range Desert Group. British unit that served in North Africa in WWII.

Leading Seaman.

Landing Ship Infantry, made from medium size converted passenger liners.

Lake Superior Regiment.

Landing Ship Tank.

Second Lieutenant, lowest officer rank in the army; entitled to wear one pip on each shoulder; hence “one pipper”.

Lieutenant Colonel.

Letters to Miss Jeanne Reid

Link Training Test. (RCAF/RAF) aka “flight simulator”.

German Air Fleets. (WWII)

German Air Force. (WWII)

Land Vehicles Tracked. ie: Buffaloes.

Lest We Forget

Landing Zone.

(Am.) Standard issue infantry rifle.

Dehydrated meat and vegetables.

Converted bulk freighters converted to ‘Merchant Aircraft Carries’.

Inflatable life jacket reference to the Hollywood actress of the same name.

Slang for La Regiment de Maisionneuve.

Sea sickness.

Morpeth Area - Morpeth Hall LIst of WWII enlistments compiled by Richard Sanford.

A place that introduced men to the RCAF training.

Ministry of Aircraft Production. (Br.)

(WWI) Actually the King George & Queen Mary Maple Leaf Club, was an inexpensive and safe base for Canadian servicemen on leave in London, England.

Also know as ‘Sew pots’ by the British in WWI were 210 and 150mm German artillery shells.

A member of one of the French underground resistance groups.

(Gr.) Also known as MARES, German Commandos.

Missing at Sea.

Masonic Lodge Roll of Honour

Nickname for the Miles Master – RAF trainer used by the RAF due to it’s similar characteristics to the Spitfire.

British scientific committee researching an atomic bomb theory in 1940.

A generic term for a medium tripod mounted machine gun. Canadian troops were trained on captured German “Maschinengewer” 1908 aka. MG08.

Refers to Gordon McMeeken family member of Pte. Forbes J. Amos 400607

Reference to the 1st Canadian Infantry Division in 1940 .

Distress call.

Member of the British Empire.

Military Cross.

Merlin Continuation School - "METEOR" Year Book 1942, Merlin, Kent Co., ON. Copies form Mr. Les Mansell

Merlin Consolidated School - "METEOR" Year Book 1943, Merlin, Kent Co., ON. Copies from Mr. Les Mansell

Morpeth and Community Roll of Honour from "As the Story is Told - A HIstory of Morpeth and Community" by: Mrs. E. Marjorie Giddis 1086

McKay's Corner Women's Institute Book found at the Kent OGS Room C-K Library, Chatham, ON Apr. 2011

Merlin and District - Roll of Honour from Merlin Standard Newspaper 28 October, 1943 for Merlin, ON

Main Dressing Station. (WWI)

Middle-East Air Command.

Medical Discharged

Mainly For Seniors Chatham-Kent Newspaper

Maxine Gardner File - A file transcript believed to be from the Tilbury Times Newspaper. Maxine was the longtime librarian in Tilbury, ON for 40 years.

Middle East Raiding Force. (Br.) Made up of 246 officers and men based in Palestine; established in October 1943.

Mary Hind Scrapbook-Names of Mary Hind's friends in service collected 1940-45 from the newspaper articles

Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham, ON

Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham, ON

Merlin Legion Memorial Banquet 15 April, 1948 - In Memoriam from program (copy)

Marion Matt, hIstorian in Bothwell, ON - Bothwell Legion Br. 252 Veterans Bothwell-Zone-Moraviantown 2012

German ME109 fighter (RAF slang).

A German corporation that manufactured aircrafts in WWII. ie. Me 109.

Meteorological reports on wind direction, humidity and temperature.

A telegram sent by the Meteorological Section of the Regiment (artillery) giving information on wind speed & direction, temperature & humidity and other such information that must be considered for effective artillery fire.

Ministry of Economic Warfare.

Medium Frequency / Direction Finding. An early means to determine an aircrafts position over the UK. (WWII) This was pre-HF/DF on Canadian ships.

Machine gun.

Motor Gun Boat.

(Br.) Military Intelligence Branch.

Missing In Action.

Missing In Action / later declared dead.

RCN slang for a hammock.

Mentioned in Dispatches.

(Cdn.) Not regular army.

Call of concentrated artillery fire of all 24 regimental (Cdn.) on a single target.

(WWI) A German mine thrower a.k.a “minnie”. German trench mortar in WWII.

(Br.) German Minenwerfers. (WWI) The German motor the French called ‘crapouillots’ fired gas, incendiary and explosive shells.

Sortie, trip, operation.

Motor Launch.

Motor Landing Craft (Br. assault boat).

Military Landing Officer. Army. Also see Beachmaster.

Main Line of Resistance.

Motor Launch Seamen.

Medical Officer.

Target calling for fire of all 24 guns of a Field Regiment.

A German WWII rocket launcher of 6 or 10 barrels (tubes) that fired 150 mm. 75lb. rockets 7300 yds., or 210mm. 248lb. rockets 8600yds., or 300mm. 277lb. rockets 5000yds. (WWII)

Military Medal.

Mid-Ocean Escort Force. Replaced the NEF in February, 1942.

(RAF) A modest daylight incursion into enemy territory.

See “KS”.

Mid Ocean Meeting Point.

Military Object Previously Attacked (RCAF).

Motor reports of enemy motor positions.

Morpeth Roll of Honour-Includes names from Morpeth, Howard, New Scotland & Community list from Richard Sabford

Motorized Transport. (WWI)

The procedure of blowing holes with explosives between adjoining buildings to allow troops to proceed from building to building.

Ministry of War Transport.

Military Police.

Mean Point of Impact. Location for bombs dropped from medium bombers and fighter-bomber.

The Merlin Royal Canadian Legion

Mobile Radar Control Post. Radar to coordinate medium and fighter bombers and ground forces.

(RAF) Missing Research & Equiry Service. Mandated to locate and identify all RAF crew reported missing in Europe after WWII.

Missing Research & Enquiring Unit/ Service. Tasked after WWII to identify and relocate bodies in unidentified graves.

Merlin Standard Newspaper

Marsh Street Baptist Church Roll Honour - Ridgetown

Merchant Ship Fighter Unit. The RAF unit on a merchant ship equipped with a catapult and a Hurricane fighter to provide convoy protection.

Meritorious Service Medal.

Military Service Recognition Book - RCL Ontario Command "Wes Remember" Vol. I Vol II Vol III Vol IV Vol V

Motor Transport.

(Br.) Motor Torpedo Boat.

Moravian of the Thames Cenotaph (names recorded from the cenotaph at Moraviantown, Chatham-Kent, ON 2007

Moosejaw Times Herald - Newspaper

Motor Transport Vehicle Reception Depot (motor pool).

Morpeth United Church - Roll of Honour in 2016, the original from the church on the hill was at the Morpeth Community Centre - WWI

Merlin United Church - Roll of Honour - WWII

Civilian dress for military.

A ‘stew’ prepared with whatever was available ie: meat, crushed hardtack biscuit, rolled oats, oxo cubes, salt and mustard for example.

Slang for the shoes worn by Italian peasants made from old tires and rope.

(WWI) Developed by the Germans, actually dichoroethyl sulfide, it was a vesicant gas that caused blistering of any exposed skin or mucus tissue, it could lay dormant for long periods of time, especially useful against artillery.

Muzzle Velocity.

Masonic Lodge War Dead - Lodge Number

Mount Zion Presbyterian Church - Ridgetown

Navigator

North-West African Air Force.

(Br.) Navy, Army and Air Force Institute.

German night-fighter squadron.

(USN) Naval Armed Guards consisting of gunners and signalmen that sailed on merchant ships.

Nan Bamett - Blenheim Historical Society WWII

Hit by enemy fire. (WWI) Corrupted from the French ‘Ilnyena plus’ – there is no
more or anything that was finished.

North-West African Strategic Air Force.

North-West African Tactical Air Force.

(Am.) Not regular army.

Unnecessary talking over the planes intercom.

Also known as “sailor’s dawn” – with a clear horizon at sea he is supposed to detect first light when the sun is still 6 - 12 degrees below the horizon.

(RAF) Navigator.

(RAF) Navigator / Bomber.

(RAF) Navigator / Wireless Operator.

Naval Air Gunner. (RAF-Coastal Command)

Norma West - Book of WWII Enlistments

New Brunswick Hussars. (Tank Regt. Italy).

North Buxton Historic Museum

Naval Combat Demolition Unit.

Non-Commissioned Officer. All warrant officers, sergeants and corporals.

Naval Control Service Officer. Determined sailing order for convoys.

Slang for Nebelwerfer.

See “Moaning Minnies”.

Newfoundland Escort Force (RCN), established in May 1941. Escorted it’s 1st convoy 2/06/1941.

(RCN) The convoy run in WWII from Newfoundland to Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

(WWI) Large caliber trench mortar used in close infantry support.

Night Flying Test. A pre-mission test flight to check out an aircrews performance.

A mission to drop leaflets over enemy territory or occupied countries in WWII.

Naval Intelligence Division (RN).

Navy Officer in Command.

Neuropsychiatric. Also known as “Battle fatigue”.

Nan Bamette - Blenheim Historical Society

Near.

Nominal Roll of 186th Bn. 28/03/1916

(Cdn.) National Resources Mobilization Act 1940 – Conscription.

"No Return Ticket" By: Alan Mann, 2002 Wallaceburg War Casualties

New Scotland Roll of Honour compiled by RIchard Sanford

Naval Services Headquarters (Ottawa pre-1942).

Nothing to report.

(Br.) Not Yet Diagnosed. Nervous condition may be ‘shell-shock’. (WWI)

Norma Wright / Heil/Cavanagh/Wright/Watson

(RCAF) Overseas Advanced Flying Unit.

(Gr.) Commander-in-Chief South. In 1943 this was Generalfield- Marshall Albert Kesselring in Italy. “Smiling Albert”.

An electronic target location device, usually carried in pathfinder Mosquito aircraft in
1943. Usually using signal from two ground stations.

Later replaced by Navigator (RAF).

Ocean Boarding Vessel. An armed merchant ship staffed with Royal Navy gunners.

Officer Commanding.

Operational Intelligence Centre.

(Am.) Officer Candidate School (Officer Training).

Officer Cadet Training Unit.

Operational conversion unit (RCAF).

Ordinary Seaman.

20mm Naval gun.

(Gr.) Shoulder fired weapon resembling an American ‘Bazooka’.

The Ottawa Genealogist - Vol 44, No. 2 April-June 2011 (found and copied by Helen Clark - CKOGS)

Orders Group where orders setting out tactics for a coming action are given to participating commanders.

Ontario Genealogical Society - Kent Branch at C-K Library, Chatham, ON

"Operation Husky - The Cdn.l Invasion of Sicily 10/07-7/08/1943" By: Mark Zuehlke

(Gr.) Oberste Heerseleitung – WWI German High Command.

Operational Intelligence Centre.

German Armed Force High Command. (WWII)

Oak Leaf Cluster

Fast Westbound Convoy. Usually with accompanying number ie: ON42.

Slow Westbound Convoy.

Officer of the Watch (Navy).

Plan for the invasion of Europe 6 June, 1944.

Also known as Kaiserschlacht, ‘Emperor’s Battle, Spring Offensive of 1918.

Observation Post.

Observation Post.

(RAF) “Out Of Control” a term to describe the situation of an enemy aircraft reported being attacked.

Combat operations or mission (RCAF).

Operation room for crew assembly (RCAF).

Other Ranks (Not Officers).

Operational Record Book (RCAF).

Operational Record Section (RCAF) / Operational Research Station.

"Orford Story" - Orford Twsp. Cemeteries found at Kent OGS Room at C-K Library Chatham Branch - WWII

Out bound slow convoy going west from UK ports.

"Orford Story 1827-1977" Roll of Honour. Edited by Charles L.D. McLaren

Ontario Steel Product - Roll of Honour. Ontario Steel Products, McGeorge Street, Chatham, ON

(Am.) Office of Strategic Services – forerunner of the CIA.

Operational Training Flight.

Orford Twsp. Historical Book, "Orford Story"

Ontario Teacher Honour Roll - 1922 Ministry of Education - Recognition for service in the Great War, (Found in "Families" OGS Vol 432 May 2004

Operational Training Unit. Follows AFU (RCAF).

Oxford University Air Squadron. (pre-WWII)

Leaving the trenches to attack the enemy.

Slang for the Airspeed Oxford, twin-engine monoplane used a and advanced trainer in the BCATP.

WWII gun – howitzer using a high explosive shell weighing twenty-five pounds.

Pilot

Parachute and Cable Device.

Port Alma and Glenwood Women's Institute - Records found at the Kent Branch of the OGS, Chatham, ON

A straw or other soft filled mattress.

(RAF) An order to come back to base and land.

The German Afrika Corps Tank Division.

A German (WWII) hand-held, on shot, throw away anti-tank weapon. Its missle could pierce 80mm of armour at up to 80 meters. The British PIAT was effective up to 100 meters and the American Bazooka could not penetrate any main battle tank frontal armour.

(Gr.) Anti-tank gunner. (WWII)

The turrets from Mk. III & IV tanks, mounted atop concrete casements with a 75mm gun plus machine guns and rocket launchers. With a three man crew they were first encountered in Italy.

(WWI) A mound of earth or sand bags that ran in front of a trench.

(WWI) A mound of earth or sand bags that ran behind a trench.

Passionate Discharge

Means by which the forces were paid on duty.

RAF slang for receiving a heavy attack.

Poor Bloody Infantry. (WWI)

Poor Bloody Observer. Also known as a Winged ‘O’. (WWI)

Principle Control Officer (Navy) Responsible for gunnery control on ships with multiple guns.

Pilot disposal centre.

Kriegie (POW’s) who secretly carried sand away from escape tunnels.

Trench Fever.

In reference to the Canadian Army in the summer of 1939 consisted of 4,261 Officers and Men + a militia of 46,500 Militia Soldiers.

(Am.) Private 1st Class.

Path Finder Force (Air force).

Public General Hospital Roll of Honour - Chatham

Public General Hospital Nurses Roll of Honour

Public General Hospital - School of Nursing - Nurses Almanac Association 1890-1983 By Miss Lillian Hastings

Photograph of Individual

Permanent Joint Board of Defence. The committee for Canada / USA co-operation.

(Br.) Phantom Signals Unit Secret WWII communications force.

British ‘gas helmet’ used in the early days of WWI consisting of a flannel bag treated with phenate-hexamine, and eyepieces, tucked into the tunic for protection against chlorine gas.

(Br.) Headquarters Liaison Regt.

The period between 3/09/1939 and 8/04/1940.

A compound of Chlorine and carbon monoxide. A choking gas in 1918 the Germans used it in artillery shells.

Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank. A hand held anti-tank weapon of Commonwealth forces. Came in 2, 6, and 17 pound versions.

A much used method of communication in the field. (WWI)

The right hand gun in each group of four artillery pieces making up a troop.

Refers to dropping sea-mines from aircraft. Also see "Gardening and Vegetables".

Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. Cdn. Reconnaissance unit in WWII. Aka ‘Plugs’, ‘Piddley Gee’.

Nickname for the Hastings & Prince Edward Regt.

"Palmyra Memories 1 July 2002 - Reunion Book - Roll of Honour

“Pipe Noise Markers” aka “Foxer” in the RN. Slang for CAT anti-acoustic torpedo equipment towed by Navy ships.

Pilot Officer (RCAF) – 1st level of commissioned officer.

Petty Officer (Navy).

A slang term adopted in WWI to refer to French Infantry. Literally meaning ‘hairy’ it became ingrained in the national consciousness as a symbol of their suffering and doggedness.

Rectangular fields built by the Dutch from reclaimed coastal areas and pumped dry for farming.

(Br.) Slang for a British soldier.

(Gr.) The sword and waist belt worn by a German officer. (WWI)

(WWI) Pains of an Unknown Origin or ‘medically’ Pyrexia of unknown Origin, ie: The 1918 Spanish flu outbreak.

(Gr.) Create by Frederick the Great of Prussia was Germany’s most coveted military medal. Frederick only spoke French thus the name of the Order.

Prisoner of War

Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

Path Finder Force. Highly trained crews that ‘marked’ targets for the main bombing force (RAF / RCAF). (WWII)

Plan Position Indicator. The plot on early RAF radar.

Provisional pilot Officer (a 1939-40 rank for pilots being trained for the RCAF).

Piper

(RAF) Photo Reconnaissance.

Crashed / damaged air craft or for a city being bombed “pranged”.

Personal Receiving Centre (RAF/RCAF).

Through greatly modified from it’s 18th century beginnings, awarded to air or sea Captains who sank an enemy ship or submarine, it was given until the end of WWII.

Perth Regiment - Master List Found at http://www.perthregiment.org/

Public Relations Officer.

Prophylactic Station.

(RAF/RCAF) Photo Reconnaissance Unit.

Park Street Methodist Church, Books of Remembrance for the Great War 1914-1918. At St. Andrew's United Church, Chatham - January 2010

Park Street United Church - Book of Remembrance - for WWII at St. Andrew's United Church 2010

Park Street United Church - Roll of Honour, From Bronze Tablet - Dedicated Sunday, l7 November, 1949 at St. Andrew's United Church 2009

Physical training.

Private

Correct or authorative information or information not wanted (RCAF).

(RAF) Slang for night flying using electronic signals to identify air fields.

Also known as beacons; a navigational aid to identify a ground position.

A Japanese code name aka “Magic by the Americans."

(RCAF) Break the rules, being a clot.

British for Prisoner of War, also known as a POW.

Wireless Q-code – “course to fly to reach me”. A magnetic course to steer for base, assuming zero wind.

Wireless Q-code – “requesting radio-controlled approach”.

Quartermaster.

Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.

Four-wheel gun towing vehicle, also known as a F.A.T.

Code name for the Quebec conference in 1943.

Humpbacked gun tractors (Br./Cdn.) generally known as ‘quads’, short for quadrupeds because of their (4x4) four wheel drive.

British slang for a low-loading lorrey (truck) used in the recovery of wrecked aircraft.

In reference to Vidkum Quisling, the Norwegian Nazi Premier of the Norwegian puppet government. A “quisling” is anyone who helped betray their country.
Norwegian collaborators were referred to as ‘quislings’.

Sure I’ll have a drink.

Royal 22nd Regt. “Van Doos”

German Motor Gun Boat. (WWII)

Ridgetown Cenotaph - Main Street, Ridgetown, ON

Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.

Ridgetown Church of Christ - Roll of Honour, Main Street West, Ridgetown, ON

Royal Canadian Infantry Corps.

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 185 - 60th Anniversary Book 1930-1960

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 206, Tilbury, ON - List of Veterans

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 243, Ridgetown, Diamond Anniversary Book 4 May, 2013 - Author Susan A. Atkinson

Royall Canadian Legion Branch 465 - Merlin, ON 50th Anniversary 1947-1997

Radio Talk.

Radio telephone.

Royal Artillery.

Royal Australian Air Force.

Royal Air Force, replace the RFC and RNAS 1/04/1918.

(Br.) Infantry slang for the RAF.

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. (WWII)

Royal Army Medical Corps.

Air force squadron strength: an operation in which the destruction of the target was the prime purpose. Also a fighter escorted daylight raid.

Air force term for: a strong fighter sweep in search of German fighters, usually close to enemy airfields.

Regimental Aid Post. (WWI)

1 ½ rounds per minute for medium guns and 1 round per minute for heavy guns.

Raid boats used by British commando.

Royal Canadian Air Force.

Royal Canadian Air Force – Women’s Division (17,000).

Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.

Royal Canadian Dental Corps.

Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 

Royal Canadian Engineers Railway Operating Division.

Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (a.k.a 1st Field Regt.).

Royal Canadian Legion Merlin Member 0 From list of "Merlin Guys" given by Jane Rumble

Radio Counter Measures. Jamming enemy radar and night-fighter communications.

Royal Canadian Navy. The permanent naval force of Canada prior to 1939. Officers had joined the permanent force and had been through naval college. Officers rank war denoted by broad straight strips.

Royal Canadian Naval Air Service. (WWI)

Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. A WWII force of naval personnel recruited for “Hostilities Only”. Officers rank was denoted by thin zigzag stripes, the “Wavy Navy”.

Royal Canadian Naval Reserve. The officers came from the merchant marine. Officers rank was denoted by crisscross stripes.

Royall Canadian Ordnance Corps.

Royal Canadian Regiment, London - ON

(Am.) Regional Combat Team or Regimental Combat Team.

Ridgetown Dominion News, Ridgetown, ON

Remembrance Day Banquet - Branch 465 Canadian Legion Program "In Memoriam" at St. Patrick's Church, Merlin, ON

Range Detection Finding (the early name for Radar).

Radar Officer (Navy).

Royal Engineers.

Reconnaissance operation searching for Huns or ground targets.

Armed reconnaissance.

The Italian Air Force in WWII.

Regina Rifle Regiment.

The location of an aircraft at any moment.

Remembrance Article from local paper

Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers. Responsible for more sophisticated repairs.

Royal Field Artillery.

Royal Flying Corps. (WWI)

(Br.) Radio Finger Printing.

Return Ferry Service. Returned ferry crews from England back to North America. Est. in May 1940.

Rear Gunner.

Royal Garrison Artillery.

Ridgetown High School - Hall of Excellence. Web page

Regimental Headquarters.

Royal Highland Regiment of Canada (Black Watch).

Ridgetown High School - Roll of Honour 1939-1945 plaque in the High School

Ridgetown Independent News

Rita Lobzun Collection - Newspaper clippings and other documents collected while she was attending Tilbury High School during WWII

Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (later shortened to FAA).

Royal Navy Reserve.

Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve.

Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Air force term for a squadron strength attack on enemy shipping at sea or in harbour.

Railway Operating Div. (WWI)

Air force term for a sweep without bomber to draw the enemy into action.

Infantry slang referring to the Sherman tank that was prone to ‘Brewing’ – catching fire.

Report of Proceedings; the official report of operations at sea.

Slang (RAF) for a particularly bad landing.

(RCAF) In the Italian campaign 1944 fighter/bombers with no specific target until called up by a forward control post.

Royal Regiment of Canada.

Reserve Recruits at Number 1 Basic Training Camp - Chatham, ON

Rural Ridgetown Women's Institute - Honour Roll Found at Kent Branch at Kent Branch OGS 2011

Radio telephone (Navy). Radio transmitter (RCAF).

Railway Transport Officer.

(Br.) Royal Tank Regt.

Returned To Unit aka. ‘washed out’ not up to Royal Marine criteria for an enlistment, “the ultimate disgrace.”

(Br.) Slang for the German trench mortar projectile in WWI.

Rendevous.

Royal Winnipeg Rifles.

Specialist 2nd Class

Small Arms.

South African Air Force.

"The Story of Bethel" By: Shirley Bain 2002

(RCAF) Standard Bean Approach used during instrument approach landings during obstructed view approaches (fog, heavy rain etc) accurate to 100 -200 ft. of a runway.

Stepping Back In Time - Trillium Trail in Dresden - Marie & Jeffrey Carter

Slang for the Salvation Army who served soldiers during both Great Wars.

RCN code for an all-out hunt “search & destroy U-Boat” – “hunt to exhaustion.

(Urdu) or breastworks of loose stone where the ground is too hard to dig.

(WWI) a trench leading into ‘No-man’s land’.

(Br.) Special Air Service. Formed in July of 1941 by Brigadier Dudley Clark.

Small Arms Training Centre. (WWII)

Senior British Officer – A POW camp designation.

Small Box Respirator aka ‘gas mask'.

(Br.) Special Boat Service. Formed in early 1943 by Lord Jellico for amphibious raiding of enemy coastlines.

(Gr.) Submarine bubble-target an anti-Asdic decoy. (WWII)

Slow Eastbound Convoy departing Sydney Nova Scotia.

(Br.) Also known as maneuvers.

(Gr.) WWI Battle flights that targeted ground troops with machine guns and bombs, introduced in 1917.

Small German anti-personnel mines. Made from a small wood box making them hard to detect with 7 oz. of explosive, intended to maim not kill.

(Gr.) ‘Slanting Music’, upward firing canons mounded in a Junkers 88 aircraft.

Horrible music or Jazz music. Four upward firing machine guns on a Junkers 88 or ME110 for attacking bombers from below.

German Mine aka. ‘Daisy cutters’ and ‘Bouncing Betsy’. When stepped on the mine sprang several feet in the air, explode with ball-bearing or scrap metal covering a 200 yard area.

(aka S-Mines) Anti personnel mines with 350 ball-bearings attached to a spring which ignited the fuse and sprang the canister about 3’ into the air before exploding.

Salem Community - Roll of Honour. "The Church on the HIghway" 98 Hwy., Wallaceburg to Dresden, WWI

A cancelled operation mission.

Sicherheitsdienst. – The intelligence arm of the Nazi Party.

Submarine Detector - Rating in RCN for Azdic (Sonor) Operator - WWII

“Special Equipment” – The term RAF Coastal Command used to refer to radar equipment.

South East Asia Command, established in August 1942.

(Gr.) Code name for “Operation Sea Lion, the German invasion of Great Britain 1940.

The final flight with an experienced pilot before flying Ops (RCAF).

Self – Evident Military Target.

"Sergeant Gander - A Canadian Hero" - A Book on the Royal Rifles of Canada by Robyn Walker ISBN978-1-55488-463-6

Steam Gun Boat.

Sergeant.

Shrapnel Wound

(Am.) Staff Sergeant.

(RCAF) Rough go, a hazardous event.

One of Chad’s toasts at the bar.

Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force.

One of Hobart’s ‘funnies’ a flail tank.

Code name for the invasion at Anzio, Italy.

Inter-cloud flying with zero visiability.

A Freddy Green expression with many uses.

Reminiscing together with some fabrication.

An expression meaning all resources had been used up.

(Br.) Special Investigation Branch.

(Gr.) A scything cut maneuver to cut off and liquidate a trapped force.

(Br.) Signals Intelligence.

(Br.) Communications.

(Br.) Special Intelligence Service.

Situation Reports.

Self-inflicted wound.

Seekriegsletung, ie. German Naval Staff WWII.

Squadron Leader.

Saskatoon Light Infantry, actually a mortar and machine gun unit.

(Gr.) Schlanke Emma. A SKODA manufactured 305mm. howitzer only slight less powerful than the Krupp 380mm. naval gun.

(RN.) Navy slang for a hammock.

Signal Liaison Unit. A select group of officers with ULTRA clearance of the most secret communications.

Shell report (artillery).

A German anti personnel weapon consisting of a canister filled with 350 ball-bearings an explosive charge, a stibby neck inged with little prongs showing. Brushing by one with boot it would spring up 3 feet in the air exploding the charge and ball-bearings.

Shrewsbury Methodist Cemetery, Harwich Twsp., Kent Co., ON - WWI

Steinhoff Memorial Cenotaph - Wallaceburg, ON

Military slang for “Situation Normal All Fucked Up”.

(RAF) slang for the German Bf109 fighter aircraft.

Naval slang for a midshipman.

RAF service police. Also known as S/P’s.

Snye District - Roll of Honour - Reported WN 24/05/45 (In the old Chatham Twsp. area East of Wallaceburg)

Mary Snyder-Pont family member of Reginald Stewart PONT 880013 See notes "Not 1st Contingent"

(RCN) Senior Officer.

Section Officer, RCAF / Women’s Division.

Special Operations Executive. British spy organization in WWII. Aka. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

(Navy) Senior Officer of the Escort or Special Operations Executive – ‘secret agents’ (Military).

(WWI) A knit hat/toque, balaclava preferred head gear for night raids or patrols.

(WWI – slang) Reference to the coloured patches sown on the shoulders of the CEF to provide Divisional identification: RED – 1st Div., BLUE – 2nd,
GREY – 3rd and GREEN – 4th .

(Gr.) A suicide act of the German Air Force that tried to ram American bombers of the 8th USAAF in the last months of WWII.

(RAF/RCAF) in the USAAF it would be a ‘mission’ also a ‘raid’ on the enemy. “Sortie in French would mean ‘Exit’.

Struck Off Strength, to indicate when an officer or had left the established strength of a unit.

Settlement on the Sydenham - Alan & Frank Mann - WWII

Is the line beyond which it is required to bring down fire, avoiding friendly positions. (WWI)

Self Propelled (often in reference to artillery).

Service Police (Air Force).

Sergeant Pilot.

Shore Police - Navy - WWII

Tinned pork product.

German machinegun MG. 38 had a fire rate of 1000 rpm. Aka “Burpgun” by US army.

(Fr.) Originally light cavalry in WWII were armoured reconnaissance units.

British Airmen without a crew.

Self-propelled Artillery.

Naval slang for a radio operator.

Commando style of covering 9 miles in 90 minutes a combination of walking and running.

(Gr.) A group only intended to dig in and fight a defensive battle.

(WWI) A pattern of flight paths by a number of flying boats on anti-sub- marine duty that resembled a spiders web to cover the largest area of sea.

(RAF) An approach to land or flying that bordered on recklessness.

(Br.) RAF – Introduced in May 1942, an electronic device carried in British bombers to make one bomber look like seven or eight to enemy radar.

Code name for the area between the Isle of Wight and the Normandy assault area.

Air force term for a new fledgling aircrew or new pilot.

RCAF slang for the Intelligence Officer.

The basic Allied air force flying unit of 24 planes.

"Southwold Remembers 0 The War Years" ISBN0-9732019-0-8 A Book of enlistments from Southwold Twsp., Elgin Co. for WWII with some WWI information

Special Ration Dept. Stamp on rum ration jars (WWI) aka “Seldom Reaches Destination”.

Special Raiding Squadron (Br.) employed in Sicily and Italy for raiding behind German lines. The name used by 1st SAS to confuse the Germans.

South Raleigh Women's Institute - Tweedsmuir Village History/ Found at Kent Branch OGS C-K Library, Chatham, ON

Steam Ship. Could also mean Submarine Scout – a non-ridged airship being developed by the RNAS (WWI)

(Gr.) “Schutzstaffel”, Hitler’s Nazi Military Guards units.

Shell Shock (aka PTSD) WWI

"Settlement on the Sydenham" By Alan & Frank Mann

Special Service Battalion. Formed after operations in Norway in WWII.

Station Standing Orders (RCAF).

RAF Station Sick Quarters, a stations medical buildings.

South Saskatchewan Regt.

Small Scale Raiding Force, small Commando 62 or less.

Special Service Troops, aka. Commando’s.

Sandy Tetreault - Tilbury

(Gr.) A fighter formation of six aircraft (equal to a RAF ‘Flight) introduced during the Battle of Verdun. (WWI)

(Gr.) Stammlager Luftwaffe; a POW camp for airmen.

A RAF Ground Control Centre also “Harlequin”.

St. Andrew's United Church - Roll of Honour, Chatham, ON 12 Nov. 1944

(Br.) See “Marmites”. (WWI)

Paratrooper slang for the number of troopers dropped from an aircraft.

(Gr.) Positions.

(RN.) ie: HMCS Hunter was in fact a shore establishment (building).

Heavy German artillery/mortar/Nebelwarfer salvoes. In the Canadian artillery it involved artillery guns being laid in such a way to ensure their shells fell in a straight line, along a selected map grid-bearing. The 24 guns of one field regiment could effectively ‘stonk’ a target 840 yards long. Combined with “Cones” created a form of siege warfare.

To fly aimlessly.

POW slang for prisoners who tracked the movements of German guards.

Attack on ground targets. Comes from the German verb ‘bestrafen’ – to punish. It was carried into WWII mostly connected to air forces.

(Am.) The term used to describe men who deliberately leave the ranks to escape the battlefield. The British term would be “deserter “. A straggler to the British was a man separated involuntarily from his unit. Ex. in a night attack or while being bombed when in a column.

Every morning troops manned the trenches for one or two hours before sunrise and sunset which were the usual times for enemy attacks.

Going into action / attack; a flight of British aircraft. (WWI)

St. Peter's Parish, (Tilbury East Twsp. - "Sesquicentennial Anniversary 1802 - 1952 Roll of Honour WWII". Found at Kent OGS-Chatham-Kent Library, Chatham, ON

St. Stephen's Anglican Church - Roll of Honour, Chatham, ON 112 Nov. 1944

St. Thomas Anglican Church - Dover Twsp., Kent Co. 1875-1975 Centennial Book

Captain in the Indian army. (WWII)

Also known as Daylight Savings Time.

Ship Wrecked - WWI

Soldiers Wall of Fame - Bothwell, ON

Air force term for offensive patrols over occupied territory.

Surface Warning; the first Canadian radar.

A trench system that joined to mainlines – like a communication trench but more elaborate and better prepared as a strong point.

Slang for getting out of hard work by feigning an illness.

Service Warning – One Canadian. The 1941 radar to detect a surfaced U-Boat Approaching.

(RAF) Station Warrant Officer.

Code name for the Casablanca Conference 14-24 Jan. 1943 where the agreement by the Allies that only “Unconditional Surrender” by the Axis countries would bring peace.

Three ton truck used mostly to transport ammunition and supplies.

Tactical Air Support.

Tactical Head Quarters close to the front line.

Trinity Anglican Church-Morpeth, ON

Town of Blenheim & District - Roll of Honour, Found at Municipal Office, Blenheim, ON

Tupperville/Chatham Twsp Roll of Honour from "Tuppervillel From the Beginning", By Melba Simpson - May 2002

The Chatham Voice

(Am.) Tank Destroyer.

Tactical Air Force. Was based on the success of the ‘Desert Air Force DAF’ of 1943.

Slang for German acoustic torpedoes introduced in 1943, slower that a GNAT and required contact to detonate.

Signal given to attack (RCAF).

An armoured fighting vehicle. Introduced first by the British in Feb. 1916, built by William Foster & Co., Lincoln, England. There were two models the ‘Male’ had two 6 pound cannons (57mm) and 4 machineguns; the ‘Female’ had 6 machineguns, both weighed approximately 30 Tons. 49 of the first Tanks arrived in the BEF in September, 1916 for the Battle of the Somme.

Loud speaker system at the air base.

Tarpaulin.

True Air Speed.

Talk Between Ships.

Troop Battery Sergeant Major.

Troop Carrying Vehicle.

Tilbury and District Historical Society

Teller is German for ‘dish’ or ‘plat’ which describes the shape of this 11.29 dia., anti-tank mine. It came in four types #29, 35, 42 and 43. weighing between 18 and 21 pounds with an Amatol charge. Also used as a costal defense weapon attached to wooden post near beaches to detonate when hit by landing craft.

British militia units.

(Gr.) ‘Terror Flyers’ in reference to Allied bomber crews.

A survey grid applicable to all units in a particular theatre of war.

(RCAF) A party high in beer consumption.

Target Finding Force, aka PFF

Thamesville Herald Newspaper

Thamesville Herald Anniversary Issue 1874-1974 8 Aug. 1974

Thamesville Herald Newspaper for 2 Nov. 1992 - Photo "Beaver Club Reunion" 4/07/42 Group Photo

Thamesville Herald Newspaper - Centennial Edition

Township Howard Hall - Honour Roll

# 69 grenades made of Bakelite (early plastic) used in training to simulate blast effects with little or no fragmentation, set off electrically.

Target Indicators, Arial flares dropped from Pathfinder aircraft (aka TI’s) to ‘mark’ targets for the main bomber stream.

Slang for the Hawker Typhoon (fighter/bomber) equipped with 60 lb. rockets became a famous tank destroyer during the Normandy invasion.

Slang for the Commonwealth helmet. (WWI)

(Fr.) latterly ‘skirmishers’ or regular infantry.

Thelma Jay Collection, Kent Branch OGS Library Nov. 2009 Memorial Book "Before Their Time" South Orford Twsp., Kent Co.,l ON

Tilbury Legion Award Night - Branch 206 RCL - Veterans Night year unknown

Trench Mortar.

Trinity Methodist Church - Roll of HOnour - Wallaceburg

Every man in a Commando carries one length of rope with a wooden handle at one end and a loop at the other – used to overcome obstacles such as rivers or walls.

Slang for when a British soldier came from.

Slang for the 45 Caliber Thompson submachine gun (could fire 650 rounds/min.) aka – ‘Chicago Piano’ aka TMG.

Toronto Scottish Regt.

German land mines with plastic casings, very hard to locate.

Too bad!

Troop, two to each of the three batteries in a field artillery regiment. Four guns to a troop.

Trooper

Carried by lice (cooties) which carried Rickettsia quintana, aka Peraxin once in the human blood stream presented symptoms of influenza and typhus. Could be debilitating and could require hospitalization.

aka. Duck boards.

Localized attacks at night involving a handful of men to as many as a company 100 depending on the objective.

If you don’t know the facts, make them up. (WWI)

Code name for Washington Conference held in May 1943.

German for ‘tassel’, an attractive cloth strap that looped around a German bayonet frog. This helped to distinguish the owners unit and rank.

"The Tilbury Story" 1887-1987"

"They Shall Not Grow Old" By Les Allison & Harry Haywood 1992 (CATP Museum Inc.)

Talbot St. United Church - Roll of Honour - Booklet found at Kent Br. OGS., Chatham, ON

Tilbury TImes

Turin United Church - Roll of Honour - From "The RIse & Progress of the Turin United Church - James McCrea

Trinity United Church - Roll of Honour WWII. "History of the Methodist & UC in Wallaceburg 1842-1992. E. Glendenning and Alan Mann

10 cm. radar detector, used by U-Boats. (WWII)

(RCAF) Kicked out.

The winter of 1916-17 brought privation to nearly all segments of the German population and there was little to eat other than turnips.

Thamesville United Church - Roll of Honour "Brief Outline of the HIstory of the Thamesville United Church, 50th Anniversary 1863-1948"

Nervous or plain scared.

Under Age for Military Duty

USA to Gibraltar fast convoy.

USA to Gibraltar slow convoy.

"Unlikely Hero - A Dieppe Survivor's Gift of Hope" A biography of Donovan "Don" Erry by George Kerr U& Doug MacKenzie ISBN 0-919939-44-9

Unidentified.

Unidentified information Source - Information that was sent to the project without the originator being identified.

Unit Landing Officer, worked in conjunction with the Beachmaster during amphibious landings.

(Br.) Code name for British Intelligence provided at Bletchey Park, England.

Artillery fire from all 72 guns of the Divisional artillery.

Indicates a newspaper article that has no confirmed source and or date

(RAF) Unstable / unserviceable aircraft.

Spitfire, or pilot after a thrash.

"Unsung Courage" - 20 stories of Canadian Valour and sacrifice. By: Arthur Bishop Chapter 15 The sinking of HMCS Valleyfield.

(Gr.) Corporal.

Unrotated Projectile. A device used early in 1940 to protect RAF stations from low flying German aircraft. A projectile was fired into the air pulling a cable the a parachute to slow the descent of the cable to catch German planes wings.

"Ultimate Sacrifice - Volume 2 RCNR" by Robert D'Aoust

United States Air Service. (WWI)

United States Army Air Force. (WWII)

United States Navy.

United States Navy Reserve.

(Br.) Unexploded Bomb.

(Gr.) Vergeltungswaffe – Nr.1 literally “Revenge Weapon No. 1”, aka – ‘Doodlebug’ the flying bomb originally for retaliation against London, England.

A German radio controlled rocket with a 2,200 lb. warhead (aka A-4A to the Germans) that became operational against England in the fall of 1944. With a range of only 200 miles, they launched from pads in Holland, traveled up to 60 miles at 3,600 MPH. There was no way to intercept them.

Royal 22nd Regt. from Montreal.

VIctoria Avenue United Church - Roll of Honour

Victoria Cross; the highest British military medal for valor.

To direct an aircraft on to a target using a geometric degree the pilot should steer.

Victory in Europe Day 8 May, 1945.

RCAF slang for sea-mines. See "Planting and Gardening".

Hand-held, pistol-operated, rocket-propelled coloured flares used in signaling.

Very High Frequency – Direction Finding.

The formation of aircraft flying in a ‘V’.

Artillery fire from 216 guns of a Corps guns.

Veteran Information Sheet - IODE INformation obtained from Kent Regt. Chapter "Gathering Our Heroes" Project

Scouting from the air to obtain information for Field Commanders. (WWI)

Victory over Japan. 15 August, 1945.

Victor Lauriston - "Romantic Kent - The Story of a County 1626-1952"

Very Long Range. (Modified bombers often the B-24 Liberator used in anti-submarine work). After the war in Europe a special force of Lancaster bombers
were being organized as “Tiger Force” for operations in the Far East working with the USAAF.

Virtuti Militari (Polish).

Cdn. Slang – “Vote McKenzie King”. In reference to the Volunteer Service Medal which was issued to everyone in 1944 just prior to the Federal election in Canada.

Valetta Presbyterian Church - Roll of Honour from "Valetta Presbyterian Church 1846-1996" By R.G.Ivison and A.M. Ivison

Vest Pocket Kodak. Manufactured between 1912 and 1926 marketed by Kodak as the “Soldiers Camera”. It used roll film that produced a 4.5 x 6 cm. negative. Often used in the early years of the Great War for field photos.

"Vocational Review 1942-1943" - Chatham Vocational School 31 Mar. 1943 By A. McManus and L. Star. From Mrs. Eileen Richards, Chatham, ON

Short range destroyers operating in the area east of NFLD., as “Hunters” of U-Boats.

Steinhoff Memorial War Cenotaph - Wallaceburg, ON

Western Approaches (Navy).

(RAF) Woman’s Auxiliary Air Force, many were radar operators and plotters.

Western Air Command. Established 1/03/38 for the defence of Canada.

(RN) Western Approaches Command – Under command of Admiral over ships and 15 group RAF responsible for area between west coast of England and CHOP line.

An area of considerable size which is well below the surrounding ground.

Wireless Air Gunner.

Parking area for artillery transports and ammunition wagons are kept.

PPF slang for target markers.

Slang for a War Correspondent.

The number of casualties a unit could expect to lose from all causes in a month, i.e: 10% of Infantry, 5% cavalry, 3.5% artillery, 2% forestry per month. Approximately 100 men per week would become a fatality.

Wing Commander.

Water closet aka. Toilet.

Experimental German submarine 250 tons, driven by hydrogen-Peroxide at 40-50 knots, not dependent on surface maneuverability. It never got past ‘Prototype’.

Wheatley Cenotaph - Wheatley, ON Inscribed Names

Wallace Courier Press Newspaper

(Br.) Western Desert Force.

Warrant Engineer (Navy).

(RAF) A fighter aircraft designated to act as ‘look-out’ for his flight. aka. ‘Arse – End – Charlie.

Western Escort Force (RCN).

A Freddy Green briefing, pointing vaguely.

(RCAF) Chad when in a dicey situation.

(RAF) Slang for being shot down likely killed.

(Gr.) “Wasp” 10.5 cm. self-propelled gun.

West Nova Scotia Regiment.

New Westminster Regt. from British Columbia.

Western Ocean Meeting Point. This was 81 nautical miles S. W. of St. John’s generally a days steaming from St. John’s. (46.54N / 051:14W). For east bound
convoys.

War Emergency Training Program. A.k.a. ‘Wet-Pee, where training took place, not Barracks.

What’s the plan.

Wheatley Historical Society - Wheatley, ON

Wallaceburg High School - Honour Roll appeared in the Chatham Daily News 225 & 27 Jan. 1945

Wallaceburg High School Student Council - IN 1945 it was reported (CDN 15/01/45) that the students sent 300 cigarettes to 128 former students and POW's

Walpole Island - The Soul of Indian Territory

Wonded in Action

(Br.) Slang for the Wellington bomber.

Wing Commander.

Strips of coarse black paper with aluminum foil dropped from aircraft to disrupt 27 cm. x 2 cm. to ‘blind’ the German radar.

Number of flying squadrons, usually 2 – 4.

Operations involving all squadrons all squadrons of a wing.

RAF/RCAF slang for “Good”.

Wheatley Journal Newspaper - Wheatley, ON

Women’s Land Army.

Western Local Escort Force.

War Memorial inscribed with individuals name

Wallaceburg News

Wireless Operators position (RCAF).

Western Ontario Regiment

Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service, also known as “Wrens”.

(Br.) Women’s Royal Navy Service. 7,000 women were enlisted in WWII.

This Roll of Honour is found in the Wallaceburg Library at 209 James Street. The list was compiled by the Chamber of Commerce and may contain names outside of C-K

Roll of Honour Wallaceburg & Surrounding Area - Compolied by Marilyn Wild, December 2010. Copy found in OGS Library C-K Library, Chatham

Windsor Daily Star, WIndsor, ON (aka Border City Star) Newspaper

Wireless School (part of the BCATP).

Wireless Telegraphy.

Wartime Memories - published By: Shirley Bain. Historian from Thamesville, ON

(Gr.) Ground based paraboloid radar that controlled night-fighter interceptions and Flak guns.

Woman’s Volunteer Service. Served service men and woman with food and drink.

"We Were Freedom" - Canadian Stories of the Second Worldl War. A project of Historica-Dominion Institute ISBN 978-I55470-302-9

Chatham and Kent County Cenotaph, Chatham, ON

Executive Officer (Navy).

(Br.) An ancient title for volunteer cavalry, incorporated into the Territorial Army (militia). In 1930 were converted to Royal Artillery and armoured units.

(Gr.) ‘Tame Boar’ – a counter measure for the allied ‘Window’ anti-radar.

Zone-Bothwell Soldiers honoured with a gift from the West Bothwell Overseas SMoke Club. LIst found in the Kent OGS Library Women's Institute books

Zone Centre Women's Institute Book - Found at Kent Branch OGS, C-K Library, Chatham, ON

Zone Centre Women's Institute Book (Honour Roll) - Found at Kent Branch OGS, C-K Library, Chatham, ON

(Gr.) Nickname for the ME-110 twin-engine fighter ‘Destroyer’. (WWII)

WWII term for men who refused voluntary service.

Zone Township Honour Roll - published 8/06/1944 in the Bothwell Times Newspaper

Zion United Church Harwich - Roll of Honour, Tupperville, ON

RAF Radio-controlled landing.

Second in Command.

8th New Brunswick Hussars were in the 5th Armoured Division in WWII.

Officers pistol that replaced the 28 Caliber revolver.

A British heavy howitzer which fired a 9.2” shell.

WWI British gun, (canon) shell weighing eighteen pounds.

German high velocity anti-aircraft gun (canon) also used against tanks and was the main gun on the German ‘Tiger’ tank.