April 13: Winnipeg's first officer down; "Singing Cowboy" Bob Nolan.

April 13, 1911- Constable John Beattie, 27, is the first member of the Winnipeg Police Service to die in the line of duty. He was only days into the job when he touched a live wire at a fire scene and was electrocuted.

Five hundred people paid their respects at the viewing and thousands lined the streets to watch the procession to Elmwood Cemetery where he was buried in an unmarked grave. In 1994, thanks to research by a retired officer, the grave was discovered and a ceremony was held to dedicate a proper headstone.

More on the life and death of Constable Beattie at the Winnipeg Police Museum site.  

April 13, 1908 - Bob Nolan (also) is born in Winnipeg. He spent much of his childhood in Winnipeg before moving east, then eventually to California. There, he became a songwriter, stunt man and an actor in 'B' Western movies. 

He was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005. For film clips, lyrics and poems. Also see this recent History Detectives story.