The entries from the Roll of Service for 1914-1918, edited by Mabel Desborough Allardyce and published in 1921, contain an image and short biography of the men who died, and an alphabetical list of the men and women connected with the University who served during the war. The entries taken from the Book of Remembrance for 1939-1945, published in 1952, contain a short biography, but no image, of the men who were killed as a result of the war. It does not include the names of all those who served during the Second World War. Supplementary information has also been gathered from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
While every effort will be made to ensure the accuracy of the information on the website, significant changes will only be made where there is documentary evidence supporting any alterations to an individual's service record.
The Roll of Honour website is now the most up-to-date resource for accessing information relating to persons connected with the University who served during the First and Second World Wars. The original printed Roll of Service is still a valuable resource to consult but please be aware that there may be information on this website which supersedes the information within the publication.
- First World War
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A total of 2,852 University staff, students and alumni served in the First World War, of whom 341 lost their lives. Their service spanned all branches of the Armed Forces. Many enlisted in the University's U Company of the 4th Gordons, others served with the Argyll & Sutherland, Seaforth, and Cameron Highlanders, as well as other army regiments and corps: the Royal Navy, Royal Army Medical Service, and the fledgling Royal Flying Corps. They came from all walks of life, all professions and ages - the youngest to die was 18, the oldest was 66. Some died in the first weeks of the war, while others, as a result of their experiences on the battlefield, lived on for some months after the armistice only to die after returning home. Many also returned to the University to continue their studies after the war, young men changed irrevocably by their experiences.
- Second World War
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In World War Two a total of 182 men lost their lives. Their service also spanned all branches of the Armed Forces with 85 men recorded as serving with the Royal Air Force in particular. Soldiers were posted all around the world illustrating the global reach of the war with service in the Medical Branch of the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force, Indian Medical Service, Federated Malaya Volunteer Reserve, Indian Mountain Regiment and Kenya Defence Force. They fought and died in places including Malaya, Libya, Java, Burma and Italy, in Japanese prisoner of war camps and on flying operations off Norway and Australia.
- List of abbreviations
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Below is a list of some of the most common abbreviations found in the Roll of Service for 1914-1918. A list of abbreviations for medals, orders and decorations can be found under Medals Awarded in First World War in the Additional Resources section .
- A.S.C. - Army Service Corps
- A.U.O.T.C. - Aberdeen University Officer Training Corps
- B.E.F. - British Expeditionary Force
- C.C.S. - Casualty Clearing Station
- D.A.D.M.S. - Deputy Assistant Director of Medical Services
- D.C.O. - Duke of Connaught's Own
- D.C.M.S. - Deputy Commissioner, Medical Services
- D.P.H. - Diploma in Public Health
- E.E.F. - Egyptian Expeditionary Force
- F.M.S. - Federated Malay States
- I.A.R.O. - Indian Army Reserve of Officers
- I.D.F. - Indian Defence Force
- I.M.S. - Indian Medical Service
- K.O.S.B. - King's Own Scottish Borderer's
- L.R.C.P. - Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians
- M.G.C. - Machine Gun Corps
- M.G.T.C. - Machine Gun Training Centre
- M.O. - Medical Officer
- M.R.C.P. - Member of the Royal College of Physicians
- N.U.W.W. - National Union of Women Workers
- O.C. - Officer Commanding
- O.C.B. - Officer Cadet Battalion
- O.T.C. - Officer Training Corps
- P.M.O. - Principal Medical Officer
- R.A.F. - Royal Air Force
- R.A.M.C. - Royal Army Medical Corps
- R.A.S.C. - Royal Army Service Corps
- R.F.C. - Royal Flying Corps
- R.N. - Royal Navy
- R.N.V.R. - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
- S.A.M.C. - South African Medical Corps
- SBR - Sick Berth Reserve (Auxiliary Royal Naval)
- S.C. - Staff Corps (e.g. Volunteer Medical Staff Corps)
- S.M.O. - Senior Medical Officer
- S.R. - Special Reserve
- S.R.O. - Special Reserve of Officers
- T. - Territorial Force or Army
- T.D. - Territorial Decoration
- T.F. - Territorial Force
- T.R.B. - Training Reserve Battalion
- U.A.S. R.A.F.V.R. - University Air Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
- U.D.A. - University Diploma in Agriculture
- V.A.D. - Voluntary Aid Detachment
- V.D. - Volunteer Officers Decoration
- WAAC - Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
- Y.M.C.A. - Young Men's Christian Association
- Y.S. - Young Soldier (Training Reserve Battalion)