§ Mr. Russellasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will instruct the writers of Army Council Instructions and other documents not to use abbreviations like "Os.C."; and to use words like "soldiers" and "officers" instead of "military personnel."
§ Mr. StracheyThe use of abbreviations in Army Council Instructions, the issue of which is restricted to officers and others who are required to observe them, economises paper and time and has the further advantage that officers and other ranks thereby familiarise themselves with abbreviations which they are required to use for messages in training and in war. The same considerations apply to other documents issued for Army use. In such of these as are available to the public the abbreviations used, other than those universally understood, are normally explained in a prefatory list.
As regards the last part of the Question, there are standing instructions in the War Office that, in the drafting of Orders and Instructions and Books of Regulations, language as simple and concise as possible is to be used. I understand that terms like "officers and other ranks" or "all ranks" are normally used rather than "military personnel."