Glossary of terms

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K
kamikaze An attack on an enemy where the actor knows that they will be killed doing it
kriegies military slang term for an Allied prisoner of war in a German camp during World War II
L
landmine an explosive placed on the ground or just beneath the surface
light case patient with lower-grade wounds or illness
lighter a flat-bottomed barge used for transporting cargo, especially to load or unload a ship
M
mackintosh a waterproof material made by cementing layers of cloth with rubber
mandate the authority to carry out a particular policy or task as a result of winning an election or vote
manoeuvre a military training exercise that involves the movement of soldiers and equipment over a large area
mateship comradeship of friends, usually male, viewed as an institution
mediate trying to settle an argument between 2 groups by talking to them both and finding things that they can both agree to
medic a doctor who works with the armed forces, as part of a medical corps
mention in despatches an official report by a superior officer naming a person in recognition of their bravery or distinguished service
merchant ship a ship that is part of a country's commercial shipping fleet, involved in transporting goods or carrying passengers; also known as a 'merchantman'
militant describes a person with a very strong belief who tries to bring about political or social change, often in extreme ways that others find unacceptable
military junta a government led by a committee of military leaders
military observer a military official deployed as part of a peacekeeping force to provide support to a coordinated mission or peace operation
militia a group that operates like an army but whose members are not professional soldiers
mine a bomb hidden in the ground or in water that explodes when something touches it
minelayer a warship or aircraft designed for the carrying and laying of mines
mobilise to prepare a military forces for a conflict; mobilisation (noun)
Morse code a telegraph code used for sending messages
musketry the technique of using small arms
mustard gas a chemical weapon used during World War I that caused blistering, sore eyes and internal injuries
muzzle velocity the speed of a projectile as it leaves a gun's muzzle
N
Nasho someone called up for national military service
national service a period of compulsory service in the armed forces
neutral describes a country that does not support any belligerent in a war or conflict
no-man's-land an area of land that is not controlled by any side during a battle
O
obelisk a tall stone pillar built to commemorate a person or an important event
objective a place or position towards which forces are directed
occupation the control of a territory by a foreign military power
offensive a carefully planned attack made by a large formation or group of soldiers
Order of Battle the units, formation and equipment of a military force; might include its identification, strength and command structure, and the disposition of the personnel
Ottoman Empire the former Turkish empire in Europe, Asia and Africa, from the late 13th century until the end of World War I
outflank to go around the flank of an opposing army by moving past it so it can be attacked from the side
outpost a small group of buildings used for military purposes in a distant part of the country or in a foreign country
P
palliasse a straw-filled mattress
parapet a low wall along the edge of a tall structure, such as a bridge or roof
paratrooper soldier trained to be dropped by parachute into battle or enemy territory
peacekeeper a member of a peacekeeping force deployed to maintain or restore peace, often defence force or police personnel
peacekeeping force a special force formed to maintain or restore peace
peacemaker a person who brings about peace, especially by reconciling adversaries
periscope a vertical tube inside a submarine that lets a person see above the surface of the water
pillbox a small building made of concrete used to defend a place in a battle
pinnace a small boat carried on a large ship, used to carry goods and people from the ship to the shore
plateau a large area of high and fairly flat land
plebiscite a direct vote by the people of a country or region in which they say whether they agree or disagree with a particular policy
posthumous something that happens after a person's death but relates to something they did before they died
prisoners of war a person who is held captive by a belligerent power, such as their enemy, during or after an armed conflict
promontory a cliff or high point of land that points out into the sea