ABBREVIATIONS OF INDIAN ARMY UNITS BY: MARK D, SELLAR One of the pleasures medal collectors derive from collecting British Campaign Medals is the fact that, with few exceptions, British medals are named and show details of rank and regiment. Many collectors tend to specialize in one particular regiment or corps. Because the man’s unit appears on the medal, it is easy for the specialist to accumulate such medals as are desired. Due to the limited space on medal rims, many regiment and corps are shown in abbreviated form. Some of these abbreviations are well known, such as "B. W." for Black Watch and "R. E." for Royal Engineers. However, not all abbreviations are as well known, and to many collectors they can prove a problem. Considering that one of the main points deciding the value of a medal is the regi- ment or corps indicated, it is important that one know what the abbreviated unit is before buying any new medal. Perhaps the most complex and diverse of all British military formations was that of the Indian Army. From the early Victorian Indian campaigns right up to independence, medals are to be found named to the many hundreds of units which composed the Indian Army. Units such as the famous Tochi Scouts are indicated by "T. S.", but how many know that "Z. M." indicates the much less known, but as distinguished, ? Below is a list of some of the units and associated departments which can be found abbreviated on the rims of Indian campaign medals: A.B.C. Army Bearer Corps A.F.I. Auxiliary Forces India Assam M. P. Assam MilitarX Police Assam V.L.H. Assam Valley Light Horse A.T. Coy. Animal Transport Company B.M.P. Burma Military Police B.M.R. Burma Military Rifles B.M.D. Bengal Medical Department Be. Gdrs. Bombay Grenadiers Be. M.D. Bombay Medical Department Be. N.I. Bombay Native Infantry Be. Cmt. Dept. Bombay Commissariat Department

Be. S+M. Bombay Sappers and Miners Br. Coy. Bearer Company B.L.H. Behar Light Horse D.C.O. Lncrs. Duke of Connaught’s Lancers

22 E.B.S.R.V.R. East Bengal State Railways Volunteer Rifles

Eur. Fus. European Fusiliers E.I.R. East Indian Railways F.C. Frontier Constabulary F.F.R. (or) Rifles

F.G.A. Frontier Garrison Artillery G.R. Gurkha Regiment/Rifles G.T.R. Gurkha Transport Regiment H.E.I.C. Honourable East India Company Hyd. Cont. Hyderabad Contingent I.A.C.C. Indian Army Corps of Clerks I.A.O.C. Indian Army Ordnance Corps I.A.R.O. Indian Army Reserve of Officers I.A.S.C. Indian Army Service Corps I.C.C. Indian Corps of Clerks I.D.F. Indian Defence Corps I.E.M.E. Indian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

I.M.L. Indian Miscellaneous List I.M.D. Indian Medical Department I.M.R. Indian Military Railways I.M.S. Indian Medical Service I.M.W.S. Indian Military Works Service I.P.S. Indian Postal Service I.S.C. Indian Staff Corps I.S.M.D. Indian Subordinate Medical Department

I.U.L. Indian Unattached List I.W.T. Inland Water Transport K.G.O.C.I.H. King George’s Own Central India Horse K.G.O.S+M. King George’s Own Sappers and Miners

23 E.G. Labour Corps M.E.S. Military Engineers Service M.F.D. Military Farms Department M.N.I. Madras Native Infantry M.P.B. Military Police Battalion N.I. Native Infantry N.W.F.P. North West Frontier Police P.C.+C.D. Port Conservatory and Construc- tion Department

P°D. Postal Department P.F.F. Punjab Frontier Force P.W.O. Lncrs. Prince of Wales’ Own Lancers

Q.O.C.G. Queen’s own Corps of Guides Q.O.C.G.I. Queen’s Own Corps of

Q.O.S+M. Queen’s Own Sappers and Miners R.I.M. Royal Indian Marine S.C.I. Staff Corps India S. I .Ry.Vol. Rif. South India Railway Volunteer Rifles

S.+M. Sappers and Miners S+T. C. Supply and Transport Corps S.V.L.H. Surma Valley Light Horse S.W.S. South Waziristan Scouts T.S. Tochi Scouts U.B. Bat. Upper Burma Battalion Zhob Militia

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