Frank was the second eldest son of Robert and Elizabeth McMonagle. He attended both elementary and secondary school in Dryden. He was enlisted with the Royal Navy when his ship was destroyed on its way to North America. All the sailors on board were lost at sea.
The McMonagle family has deep roots in Dryden. Proud of his Irish descent, Frank’s father Robert, brought his Irish culture to Dryden by participating in the local Orangemen’s parade. Recorded in the McMonagle family history is the event of the first automobile coming to Dryden where Robert was there to it. Frank’s mother, Elizabeth headed the women’s auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion in Dryden.
Frank McMonagle is remembered by family as someone who was very “free-spirited”. After leaving school, he was employed for two years with the Dufferin Construction Company. Clark Gold Mines was his next place of employment, where he also spent about two years. Eventually, Frank found employment on the oil tankers that sailed out of Port Arthur, Texas.
At the commencement of the War, Frank enlisted in Montreal with the British Royal Navy. After sailing to Glasgow, he joined with the Merchant Marine core of the Royal Navy. During his service with the Royal Navy, he was promoted from stoker to petty officer.
On February 5, 1940 on a return trip to North America, his ship was torpedoed five times and Frank was lost at sea.
Surviving members of his family were his parents in Dryden, a wife in Glasgow, three sisters, and four brothers, one of whom (James) was killed in Italy four years later.
Frank McMonagle was the first casualty amongst 300 people enlisted in the armed forces from this area.
Frank McMonagle, James Reid, Gordon Smith, Frank Olsen and Frank James are Dryden High alumni killed during the war and who have no known gravesite.