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Frank's father was a clerk of
Canada's Privy Council, his uncle D'Arcy McGee, a Father of Confederation. He was a
member of the early Rough Rider's Football team, an oarsman for the Ottawa fours at the
Canadian Henley Regatta on many occasions, and played hockey for Ottawa Silver Seven.
McGee, Frank Clarence, Lieutenant, was born on 4 Nov 1882 in Ottawa, ON. He was the son of John and Elizabeth,
185 Daly Ave., Ottawa, ON. He lost an eye on 21 Mar 1900 while playing
in an exhibition hockey game in Hawkesbury, ON. The game was to raise money for Canada’s
part in the South African War. He played for the Ottawas hockey team in
1903 when they won the Stanley Cup. They
were renamed the Ottawa Silver Seven and they again won in 1904 and 1905, but lost in the 1906 final. In the second game in
1905, against the Dawson City Nuggets, he scored 14 goals, a record which still stands. He
also played lacrosse and football. He was an original inductee into the Hockey
Hall of Fame in 1945. When he attested on 9 Nov 1914, he was working as a civil servant.
He had served in the 43rd Regiment, Duke of Cornwall’s Own Rifles, Canadian Militia, and was serving
with the 21st Bn when he was killed in action on 16 Sep 1916, age 33. He is
commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. He was survived by his parents,
brothers D’Arcy, WR and JJ, and two sisters including Lillian. Another brother,
Charles, was killed in action in May 1915. It is not known
how he passed his army medical with only one eye.
The above contributed by Peter
Gower
A detailed biography, The
Killing of Frank McGee, is a must read. Notes on the writing of the book by Don
Reddick, and ordering information are available at http://www.donreddick.com/companion.html
(this link will open a new window)
His feats as a sportsman and
his heroics in France are all the more amazing when you realize he was blinded in one eye
in charity hockey game in 1900.
The home that Frank grew up
in is currently (2008) being used as a Bed & Breakfast in Ottawa ON and is pictured
above.
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Nov 4, 1882
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Born at Ottawa ON
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Oct 22, 1914
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Paid from this date with
rank of Lieutenant with 43rd Regiment DCOR, Ottawa
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Nov 9, 1914
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Attested at Kingston –
nok given as John McGee at 185 Daly Ave., Ottawa ON – occupation given as “civil
servant” – Note on file at attestation reads “In case of casualty notify
Darcy McGee, 12 Marlborough Ave Ottawa instead of next of kin, also notify Mrs Crowdy,
Q7453 (no address given)
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Nov 10, 1914
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Transferred to CEF
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Nov 11, 1914
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Appointed temp Lieut with 21st
Battalion at Kingston
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May 5, 1915
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Embarked with unit for
England
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Jun 5, 1915
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Qualified with machine gun
at Shorncliffe
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Sep 14, 1915
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Proceeded to France with 21st
Battalion
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Dec 15, 1915
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“While in action and
handling a gun in an armored car, which was blown up by the bursting of an HE shell into a
ditch 6 feet deep, and into this he fell striking his right knee against some part of the
car and received a small puncture wound of superficial tissues just inside the patella. Synovitis was caused by the blow, and the knee
became much swollen.”
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Dec 19, 1915
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Admitted to No 1 Red Cross
Hosp, Le Toquet – knee injury
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Dec 28, 1915
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Admitted to Mrs Arnoldis
hospital, London England – motor car blown up by HE shell and he was hurled into a
deep ditch – injury to right knee
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Jan 8, 1916
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Attached to HQrs CTD,
Shorncliffe from 39th Battalion
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Jan 18, 1916
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Medical board declared the
wound completely healed and recommended one month’s leave – Granted one week
leave
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Jan 20, 1916
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Discharged from hospital
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Feb 22, 1916
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Declared unfit for any
service for 3 weeks
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Mar 10, 1916
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Declared fit for general
service
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Mar 16, 1916
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Proceeded to France to 21st
Battalion
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Mar 23, 1916
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Declared unfit for any
service for one month
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Apr 1, 1916
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Transferred to General List
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Apr 4, 1916
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TOS for temporary duty D of R & O in England
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Apr 20, 1916
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Fit service at home, unfit
for Gen Service for 3 months
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May 4, 1916
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SOS Dept of R&D,
Folkstone
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May 10, 1916
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Reported from Bath and
proceeded to undecipherable
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May 18, 1916
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Ceased to be employed Dept
of R&D
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Jul 4, 1916
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Attached to 39th
Battalion
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Aug 25, 1916
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Arrived in France as part of
reinforcement draft
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Aug 29, 1916
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Proceeded to 21st
Battalion
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Aug 31, 1916
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TOS 21st
Battalion from England as reinforcement
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Sep 16, 1916
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Reported from GHQ,
“Killed in Action”
 
Because his body was never identified when buried, Lt FC McGee is commemorated on the Vimy
Memorial in France
Photo on right was taken after the
Memorial's restoration
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May 22, 1920
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Eligible 1914-15 Star –
Medals and decorations to Lillian E McGee (sister), plaque and scroll to John J McGee
(father), Cross of Sacrifice to Mrs Elizabeth McGee (mother), all of 185 Daly Ave., Ottawa
ON.
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2010
For the 7
nights leading up to November 11, 2010, the names of all Canadian soldiers were projected
onto the Belgian War Memorial in Ypres. At
the same time, the same names were being broadcast via the internet to schools across
Belgium and Canada. The image above shows
the opening ceremonies at the Belgian War Memorial on November 4, 2010.
Below on the
left is the name of Frank McGee being projected on that wall. Below right shows the name being broadcast to the
schools. Each name appeared for 25 seconds
and each night 9,700 names were shown.
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