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In August 1914, five men left Transcona "ready to meet the enemy". They voluntarily enlisted and served with the 90th Rifles of Winnipeg. All five men were civic employees, members of local lodges, churches, sports clubs and well known in the Town. They were: Walter Barugh (Health Inspector), David Halcrow (Chief of Police), Angus McKinven (Assistant Town Clerk), A.T. Price (Clerical Staff), Fred Keen (Health Department)

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The official crest for the 'Town of Transcona'
1912
Transcona, Manitoba, Canada

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Advertisement taken from the Transcona Times
2 October 1914
Transcona, Manitoba, Canada

Credits:
Transcona Times

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Recruitment ad from the Transcona Times
12 May 1916
Transcona, Manitoba, Canada

Credits:
Transcona Times

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Recruitment ribbon from World War I
1916
Transcona, Manitoba, Canada

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Volunteer fire brigade and horses in front of the Transcona Municipal Offices and Fire Hall
1915
Transcona, Manitoba, Canada

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Service to King and Country
31 August 1914
Transcona, Manitoba, Canada

Credits:
Transcona Times

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Walter Barugh lived in Transcona with his wife, Mrs. Mabel Barugh, and was employed as the Transcona Health Inspector. Born on October 10, 1884, he was a native of York, England before coming to Canada and settling in Transcona. Walter Barugh was among the first from Transcona who volunteered to bear the King's uniform. He enlisted September 23, 1914 in Valcartier. He served with the 90th Rifles and 8th Battalion.

Walter Barugh was the first Transcona man killed in action during WWI. In March 1915 the dreadful headline on the front page of the Transcona Times announced: "Transcona Man Killed in Action - Pte Walter Barugh is the first victim of Transcona Contingent - Killed in Action on March 10." While in the trench Pte. A German shell burst killed Barugh instantly. The family was notified of the news by a telegram that was delivered by Transcona police officer Constable Davey. The telegram read as follows:

"Mrs. Alice Barugh, Transcona Deeply regret to inform you Pte. Walter Barugh, 8th Battalion, killed in action 10th March at LaBoulillerie." The news was devastating to his family: wife Alice, daughter Annie (aged two years and four months), and son William (aged three months) as well as all the townspeople. The newspaper reported, "a cloud of gloom was cast over the entire community. At the town hall and the Central School the flags were hung at half mast as a token of the community's last tribute." Pte. Savage, a fellow Transconian in Pte. Barugh's regiment wrote in a letter "I daresay you've heard the sad news of Mr. Barugh by this time. The boys were pretty cut up, and our greatest sympathy lies with his wife and children. Can't say much, only that we will be very lucky if we see Transcona again."

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Transcona Health Inspector, Walter Barugh
3 March 1915
Transcona, Manitoba, Canada

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Pte. Walter Barugh, Transcona Health Inspector killed in action on March 10
19 March 1915
Transcona, Manitoba, Canada

Credits:
Transcona Times

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Police Chief David Halcrow
1914
Transcona, Manitoba, Canada

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Born in Sandwich, Shetland, Scotland on April 10, 1886, David Halcrow came to Transcona where he served as the Police Chief for the Town of Transcona. He was the husband of Mrs. Ina Halcrow of Winnipeg, Manitoba and the father of their one son. Prior to his enlistment, he was a member of the L.O.L. Transcona Branch. When Police Chief David Halcrow left, he also took "Paddy" a greyhound dog that was quite familiar to those at the Town Hall.

Sgt. David Halcrow, Transcona's Police Chief, was engaged in battle on the front lines at Ypres in 1915 when the Germans first introduced poisonous gas. Overcome by the fumes, Halcrow was hospitalized in May and suffered the effects of the gas for many months. He returned to the front in December 1915. During the war, he wrote many letters home to Transcona. On one occasion, in a letter received by Miss Liss of Transcona, Lance-Cpl Halcrow made mention of a "special effort he made to secure for display in the window of Mr. Liss' store, a German helmet." (Such "trophies of war" were greatly sought after by the soldiers) Following his honourable discharge in December 1917, Sgt. Halcrow returned to Transcona. He resumed his appointment as Chief of Police for Transcona on January 1, 1918.

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Former Police Chief Halcrow and other Transcona men have been overcome by gas fumes
1915
Europe

Credits:
Transcona Times

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German helmet from World War One
1916
Germany