Can anyone explain some WWII era abbreviations for me and subtle differences in ranks? Firstly what is the meaning of A.O.E.R.? As in, commissioned through the A.O.E.R. Also the differences between A/Lt. Col. and T/Lt. Col.? Presumably it is Acting Lieutenant Colonel and Temporary Lieutenant Colonel? But what's the difference between an Acting and Temporary anything? And the last one, what's a W/S Major? Thanks for any help!? Lee www.psywar.org

Can anyone explain some WWII era abbreviations for me and subtle differences in ranks? In the subject of ranks, I was in the town museum in a small place between Calgary and Edmonton recently.  I had passed it on numerous occasions but never stopped in.  Turned out to be better than I had expected. Part of the exhibit was a wall showing photos, names, and ranks of locals who had served in both WW's.  I noticed some discrepancies between the rank shown on each brass name plaque, and what appeared in the photo. Sailors would have army ranks, and so forth.  I inquired and was told that the rank on the plaque was the highest the person claimed to have reached, and a sailor might have remustered to the army at some point. They also told me that it was not unknown for someone to claim a higher rank than what their fellow servicemen remember them as having reached. But WWII records are still private, so there is no way for the museum to check with MOD. I did notice an air force Flight Sergeant whose plaque showed him as a simple sergeant, and the lady in charge said she would check on that one. During the course of this discussion she showed me a list of ranks they had received from the Ministry of Defence in Ottawa,  In that list the official abbreviations for each rank were shown, and in the air force section there was 'FL' in the sergeant category. Never heard of that one.  'F/L' was Flight Lieutenant, an officer rank, when I was in the RCAF.  Officer ranks in abbreviation were distinguished from those of Other Ranks by the slash. Anyone know what that might be?   Ferry Command had different ranks during WWII.  Could that be 'flight leader' or some Ferry Command equivalent for sergeant? Cheers, Lech

Also the differences between A/Lt. Col. and T/Lt. Col.? Presumably it is Acting Lieutenant Colonel and Temporary Lieutenant Colonel? But what's the difference between an Acting and Temporary anything? People holding acting ranks are usually paid for that rank:  perhaps people holding temporary ranks were not paid at the rank's rate.  But there may also be differences among regiments or corps.

Firstly what is the meaning of A.O.E.R.? Army Officers' Emergency Reserve . Cheers and all,

Also the differences between A/Lt. Col. and T/Lt. Col.? Presumably it is Acting Lieutenant Colonel and Temporary Lieutenant Colonel? But what's the difference between an Acting and Temporary anything? Anthony Makepeace-Warne's Brassey's Companion to the British Army (Brassey's, London, 1995 and 1998) gives the following definitions: Acting Rank:  Unlike local rank (qv) the grant of acting rank brings with it the pay and allowances appropriate to the acting rank held.  However, a Commanding Officer has the right under Queen's Regulations (qv) to order the holder to revert from that rank. Local Rank:  Unpaid temporary rank usually granted for the execution of a specific short-term task in a specific location or theatre.  In the event of disciplinary action a soldier will be tried oin his acting (qv) or substantive (qv) rank. Temporary Rank:  Rank granted for a period of short duration, usually for the duration of a specific task. All the best, John.

Anyone know what that might be? The April 28, 1942 edition of the Fort William (Ontario) Daily Times-Journal included this front-page story: Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Hicks, 323 South Vickers street, received word Sunday night by cable that their son, Flight Sgt. Joseph Melvin Hicks, 21, observer with the R.C.A.F., is missing overseas as a result of air operations. He has been missing since April 24. The newspaper further reported that only the day before Joe's parents had received a letter from him, dated March 27. He told them that he was currently on leave, and that he had just received official word that he had been promoted to the rank of Flight Sergeant. I have done extensive research on Joe Hicks, who died either from wounds received as the result of an attack on his Hampden bomber by a German night fighter, or from injuries resulting from the subsequent crash of his bomber in Denmark, where he is buried. Canadian records identify him as Sgt. Hicks, and he is so listed in the Book of Remembrance in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, in the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and on his tombstone. Given the absence of any official record of the promotion, officials of the Department of National Defence are not willing to raise his rank posthumously. I assume that the official word Joe received about his promotion was given to him by someone higher up the chain of command, and that any paperwork that had been done was destroyed or lost following his death. Bob Ingraham Vancouver