This photo from 1914 shows the Royal Garrison Artillery. Shared by Penny Robertson who lives in Australia. Blantyre man John McQuater is first on the left in the back row. John was the older brother of Margaret McQuater who married into the Sprott family of Glasgow Road, Blantyre.
John McQuater was born on 8th February 1891. He lived with family at Joanna Terrace. 1914 however, would be a difficult year for him, for as well as heading off to face the unknown horrors of WW1, his father, Andrew McQuater also died.
The RGA were the ‘technical’ branch of the Royal Artillery who were responsible for much of the professionalisation of technical gunnery that was to occur during the First World War. They were up close, operating the “big guns” and were exposed completely to the loud noises of shelling, often with hearing loss or ringing.
Can I politely suggest that the image is post Armistice 1918/19 not 1914 given the overseas chevrons showing and if John McQuater is No. 78298 RGA & 265604 RFA it is RFA not RGA. A closer look at the shoulder titles is needed to confirm.
Regards Paul