1782: A British fleet, commanded by Admiral Lord Howe in HMS Victory, fought the French and Spanish fleet off Cape Spartel. Although the action was in itself inconclusive, it frustrated Franco-Spanish efforts to support the siege of Gibraltar.

1827: During the Greek War of Independence, a Turkish-Egyptian fleet had landed troops at Navarino Bay in the Peloponnese, despite demands by the three Great Powers, Britain, France and Russia, for an armistice. A fleet from all three Powers, led by Vice Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, was ordered to intervene. On 20 October, the allied fleet entered Navarino Bay and destroyed the Turkish and Egyptian ships. The decisive defeat led to Egypt withdrawing its support to the Ottomans. Navarino was effectively the last major Royal Navy action under sail, with steam propulsion being widely adopted in later years.

1854: During heavy skirmishing around the Quarries at Sevastopol, Sergeant McWheeney rescued a wounded man under heavy fire and carried him to safety. He received the Victoria Cross.

1897: Lieutenant-General Sir William Lockhart had led a large punitive expedition, the Tirah Field Force, against the Afridis and Orakzais of the North-West Frontier in October 1897, following repeated banditry and raiding. On 20 October, the Gordon Highlanders and 1/2nd Gurkhas led the attack on the Dargai Heights, fiercely defended by Afridi tribesmen. Four Victoria Crosses were won that day. In particular, the exploits of Piper Findlater of the Gordons, who lay against a rock so that he could contine to play the men into action, despite having been shot in both ankles, made him one of the most celebrated late Victorian heroes. The other recipients were: Lieutenant Pennell, Derbyshire Regiment; Private Lawson, Gordon Highlanders; and Private Vickery, Dorsetshire Regiment. All were honoured for their efforts to rescue wounded comrades.

1900: During an action with Boers, Lieutenant Doxat, Imperial Yeomanry, rode back to rescue a trooper whose horse had been shot. Doxat received the Victoria Cross.

1914: Glitra was the first British merchant vessel to be sunk by submarine, falling prey to U-17 off Skudenaes.

1918: Four runners from a battalion of the Manchester Regiment had already been killed trying to deliver an urgent message on the Western Front when Private Alfred Wilkinson volunteered to make an attempt.

His route required him to run 600 yards through enemy machine-gun and artillery fire. He successfully delivered the message then returned the same way.

Wilkinson received the Victoria Cross, as did Sergeant John Daykins, York & Lancaster Regiment

who captured two German machine-guns and returned with 25 prisoners and one of the machine-guns to help defend the newly won positions.

1940: The Germans continued to rely on fighter-bombers for daylight hit-and-run attacks. Night attacks were launched against London and the Midlands.