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A Branch: The Adjutant Generals branch of staff, usually responsible for training and order.
A Frame: In terms of First World War trenches, an A Frame was an A shaped support sunk point down into the muddy ground, with planking resting on the cross beam. Water in theory ran away underneath.
AA: 1. Acronym for either 'Anti-Aircraft' or the 'Ack-Ack' noise such weapons made.
2. Armee-Abteilung, German Army.
AA & GMQ: Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General.
Abdul: Colloquial term for Turkish soldiers, used by Allied troops in World War One.
abris: French term for a shelter or dugout.
abris caverne: French term for a deep shelter or dugout.
ABV: Armed Boarding Vessel, a small civilian ship requisitioned and armed by the navy.
Ace/Aces: Popular term to describe fighter pilots with more than a certain number (varying by nation) of kills, usually five.
ACF: Active Citizen Force; the South African 'defence forces' of World War One.
Ack Ack: Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Aircraft fire, derived from the noise such weapons made.
Ack Ack Ack: A full stop in telegraphy.
Ack Emma: A.M/Morning.
AD: Allgemeines Kriegs-Department, the 'General' Department of the German War Ministry.
ADMS: Assitant Director of Mediecal Services.
Adrian Helmet: Standard French helmet.
Adrian Hut: A type of French barrack building.
ADS: Advanced Dressing Station.
AEF: 1. Acronym for the 'American Expeditionary Forces', the US forces active in Europe during the war. By the war's end the AEF numbered over two million.
2: Acronym for Afrique Equatoriale Française, French Equatorial Africa.
AEG: Allgemeine Elektrizitäts Gesellschaft, a German airplane manufacturer.
AEG C-Type(s) : A series of German armed biplanes first introduced in 1916.
AEG G-Type(s) : A series of German twin-engined bombers first introduced in 1916.
AEG J-Type(s) : A series of German two-seated armoured bi-planes developed from the C-Type to support infantry.
Aerial Burst: Artillery shell which detonates at a specific height, as opposed to on contact, raining shrapnel down to the ground.
Aerial Torpedo: A mortar bomb with fins dropped from a plane.
Aéronautique Militaire: The air branch of the French army.
AFO: 'Army Form Nought', a sarcastic/"disgusted" reference to overwhelming paperwork.
AFSR: Armed forces of South Russia.
Agadir Crisis: Another name for the Second Moroccan Crisis of 1911.
AGO: Aerowerke Gustav Otto, German airplane manufacturer.
Ago C-Type(s) : A series of reconnaissance biplanes used by the German army.
Agru: German telegraphy group using 'Arent' listening devices, usually at Corps level.
AHQ: Army Headquarters.
AIF: Australian Imperial Force; the Australian army.
Airco DH-1: British two-seater biplane for designed fighting and reconnaissance, first introduced in 1915.
Airco DH-2: British single seat biplane designed for reconnaissance, first introduced in 1916.
Airco DH-4: British two-seater bomber first introduced in 1917.
Airco DH-5: British biplane fighter introduced in 1917 and often used as a ground attack weapon.
Airco DH-9: British long-ranged twin engined bomber, first introduced in 1918.
Aircraft Carriers: Not the modern aircraft carrier, but 'aircraft tenders', ships which carried and could launch planes, but on which planes couldn't land. The first converted aircraft carrier was still in trials when the war ended, and the first purpose built still under construction.
Ak dum: 1. 'Immediately' in the British army, derived from Hindustani.
2. Facetious description of German notice boards.
AKK: Armee-Kraftwagen-kollonnen, German army transport columns.
Akofern: From Armee-Fernsprechkommandeur, commander of a German telephone section.
Akofunk: From Armee-Funkerkommandeur, commander of a German wireless section.
Akonach: Commander of a German signal service.
Albatros B-Type(s) : A series of unarmed German reconnaissance biplanes in service when the war began.
Albatros C-Types (s) : A series of German two-seater armed biplanes used for reconnaissance and occasional light bombing, first introduced in 1915.
Albatros D-Types(s) : A series of single seat German fighter aircraft first introduced in 1916.
Albatros J-Type(s) : A series of two-seater German ground attack aircraft first introduced in 1917.
Albratros W-4: A German seaplane fighter aircraft first introduced in 1916.
ALH: Australian Light Horse.
Alleyman: British nickname for a German, derived from the French Allemagne.
Allies, The: The alliance of nations fighting against the Central Powers. As the original three 'Entente' powers - the British, French and Russian Empires - were joined by other nations their collective name changed to the broader 'Allies'. Both sides used the term. Technically, the United States was an 'Associate Power' of the Allies, and not an Ally itself.
Allied Maritime Transport Council: A council to allocate the merchant shipping (as opposed to military) resources of the Allies from late 1917.
Ally Sloper's Cavalry: British nickname for the Army Service Corps.
Alpini: Italian mountain troops.
AMB: Armoured Motor Battery, a British armoured car unit.
AMC: 'Armed Merchant Cruiser', basically large, speedy passenger ships requisitioned by navies and armed to Cruiser standard. All sides used AMCs as auxiliaries to their official navies.
American Union Against Militarism: Leading pro-pacifist, non-interventionist society of the United States, created in 1914 and against joining the war.
'Amiens Dispatch': A report published by the London Times on August 30th 1914 containing the pessimistic views of the BEF commander Field Marshal John French and in doing so first broke the optimistic mood of the British public.
Amiens Hut: A canvas over poles structure found in British camps.
Ammo: Ammunition.
Ammos: British nickname for boots.
AMS: Army Medical Staff.
AMTC: Acronym for Allied Maritime Transport Council.
ANMEF: Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force, sent to New Guinea and New Britain in 1914.
Ansaldo A-1: Italian designed fighter biplane first used in 1918.
