Second in Command

Admiralty Experimental Station – outposts of the Admiralty Research Laboratory where the navy carried out research into new technology.

Anti-Submarine Detection – It was a British version of sonar to detect submarines underwater.

Absent Without Leave

US slang for dish washing duty

Coast Artillery Search Light

Chain Home Low Radar Station

Commanding Officer

The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry – Cornwall’s county regiment with its depot at the Victoria Barracks in Bodmin.

A woman serving with the American Red Cross in a Donut Dugout supplying doughnuts and coffee to the troops.

General Infantryman in the US Army

General Post Office

A shortwave wireless receiver manufactured by the National Radio Company of Massachusetts, USA. Its workers claimed HRO stood for Helluva Rush Order.

Landing Craft Personnel: a small single deck craft designed to land a platoon of 36 troops on the beach.

Landing Craft Tank: a single deck craft with front ramp to allow unloading on the beach.

Military Intelligence Section 5 – responsible for security within the UK. Sometimes referred to as SS – Security Service.

Prisoner of War

Royal Air Force

A marshalling camp for troops prior to embarking for D-Day. The nickname arose from the shape of the camp when drawn on a map.

US slang for intoxicated or drunk

Women’s Royal Naval Service. Sometimes called Wrens. Revived in 1939 having been disbanded in 1919, the women performed a wide range of shore-based activities.

A short-range rocket launcher that was used as an anti-aircraft weapon.

Anti-aircraft. Sometimes called ack-ack.

Air Raid Precautions

Auxiliary Territorial Service. Formed in September 1938, women were barred from combat duties but as the war progressed became part of AA Gun Battery crews operating radar and cinetheodolites.

British Expeditionary Force – the British army sent to France and Belgium in 1939 and evacuated in 1940 in Operation Dynamo from Dunkirk and Operations Ariel and Cycle from the ports of Normandy and Brittany.

Coast Artillery

Chain Home Radar Station

Commander in Chief

US slang for someone who always seeks the easy jobs

The jetty at an embarkation hard for the troops to board their landing craft/ships.

US slang for unauthorised absence

Gun Operations Room

His Majesty’s Ship

Intelligence Officer

Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel: a small single deck craft designed to land a vehicle such as a tank or other armoured vehicle or a platoon of 36 troops on the beach.

Landing Ship Tank: a ship with bow doors and ramp to allow the unloading of military vehicles on the beach.

Military Intelligence Section 6 – responsible for intelligence gathering abroad. Sometimes referred to as SIS – Secret Intelligence Service.

Post Exchange: acted as the US Army post office and shop where troops could buy sweets, razors, toothpaste, etc.

Radio Security Service – originally set up to monitor illegal wireless traffic within the UK. Was then used to eavesdrop on German signals.

Military Policeman. The nickname arose from their white helmets and gloves.

Women’s Auxiliary Air Force – established in June 1939, the women performed a wide range of duties except for aircrew.

Women’s Land Army – Reformed in June 1939 after being disbanded at the end of World War One, the Land Girls worked on farms to release men for the fighting forces.