This is a list of the most common abbreviations used in First World War and Second World War service records held by the National Archives.
| Abbreviation | Definition |
|---|---|
| AAH | Australian Auxiliary Hospital |
| AAMC | Australian Army Medical Corps |
| AANS | Australian Army Nursing Service |
| AASC | Australian Army Service Corps |
| AB/Dvr | Able Bodied Driver |
| ADBD | Australian Divisional Base Depot |
| ADH | Australian Dermatological Hospital |
| AFA | Australian Field Artillery |
| AFC | Australian Flying Corps |
| AGBD | Australian General Base Depot |
| AGH | Australian General Hospital |
| AIBD | Australian Infantry Base Depot |
| AIF (1st AIF) | Australian Imperial Force (WWI) |
| AIF (2nd AIF) | Australian Imperial Force (WWII) |
| AL Rwy | Australian Light Railway |
| AM | Aircraft Mechanic |
| AMGBD | Australian Machine Gun Base Depot |
| AMTS | Australian Mechanical Transport Service |
| AN&MEF | Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force |
| AOC | Army Ordnance Corps |
| Arty | Artillery |
| ASC | Army Service Corps |
| ASH | Australian Stationary Hospital also Australian Special Hospital |
| AVES | Australian Veterinary Evacuating Station |
| AVH | Australian Veterinary Hospital |
| AWL | Absent without Leave |
| BEF | British Expeditionary Force |
| Bde | Brigade |
| BGROC | Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company |
| Bn | Battalion |
| Bty | Battery |
| CCS | Casualty Clearing Station |
| Con Dep | Convalescent Depot |
| Coy | Company |
| Cpl | Corporal |
| Cps | Corps |
| Cpt | Captain |
| Cyc | Cyclist |
| DAC | Division Ammunition Column also Division Artillery Column |
| DCM | District Court Martial |
| DD | Details Depot |
| Den Cps | Dental Corps |
| Div | Division |
| DSC | Divisional Supply Column |
| EEF | Egyptian Expeditionary Force |
| EMM&B Coy | Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company |
| Engrs | Engineers |
| F Amb | Field Ambulance |
| FAB | Field Artillery Brigade |
| Far | Farrier |
| FCE | Field Company Engineers |
| FTD | Full-time duty |
| GDD | General Details Depot |
| GSR | General Service Reinforcements |
| GSW | Gun Shot Wound |
| HMAT | His Majesty's Australian Transport |
| HS | Hospital Ship |
| HT | Hired Transport also Horsed Transport |
| ICC | Imperial Camel Corps |
| Inf | Infantry |
| LGROC | Light Gauge Railway Operating Company |
| LH Bde | Light Horse Brigade |
| LHFA | Light Horse Field Ambulance |
| LHR | Light Horse Regiment |
| LHRR | Light Horse Reserve Regiment |
| LHTR | Light Horse Training Regiment |
| LoC | Lines of Communication |
| L/Cpl | Lance Corporal |
| L/Sgt | Lance Sergeant |
| Lt | Lieutenant |
| M Vet Sec | Mobile Veterinary Section |
| Maj | Major |
| MD | Military District |
| MEF | Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli) |
| MG Coy/ Sqn | Machine Gun Company/Squadron |
| M/I | Marched In |
| M/0 | Marched Out |
| MT/Dvr | Mechanical Transport Driver |
| Mtd Reg | Mounted Regiment |
| NYD | Not Yet Determined/Diagnosed |
| PO | Petty Officer (Navy) |
| Pnrs | Pioneers |
| Pte | Private |
| PUO | Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin |
| RAA | Royal Australian Artillery |
| RAE | Royal Australian Engineers |
| RANBT | Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train |
| RBAA | Reserve Brigade Australia Artillery |
| Regt | Regiment |
| RMT Unit | Remount Unit |
| RSD | Railhead Supply Detachment |
| SAN Sect | Sanitation Section |
| SB | Siege Battery |
| Sig | Signals |
| STS | Sea Transport Staff |
| S/Smith or SS | Shoeing Smith |
| Sgt | Sergeant |
| Sjt | Serjeant (variant of Sergeant) |
| Sqn | Squadron |
| SW | Shrapnel Wound |
| TMBty | Trench Mortar Battery also LTMB, MTMB, HTMB (Light, Medium or Heavy Trench Mortar Battery) |
| TOS | Taken on Strength |
| Tp | Troop |
| Tun Coy | Tunnelling Company |
| VDC | Volunteer Defence Corps |
| Vet Sect | Veterinary Section |
| Whr | Wheeler |