1940: Five Fairey Battle light bombers of 12 Squadron RAF were dispatched on an attack against a pair of bridges over the Albert Canal, across which the German forces were advancing. None of the five aircraft returned.

Two Battles, flown by Flying Officer Thomas and Pilot Officer Davy, headed for a bridge at Vroenhoven, which the Germans had defended with a heavy concentration of anti-aircraft guns. Thomas' was shot down and its three crew captured, while Davy's was badly damaged: he ordered his two crew members to bail out for safety, then struggled to return home, crash-landing short of base.

Meanwhile, Flying Officer Garland led three aircraft in a low-level attack on a bridge at Veldwezelt. They were also met with extremely heavy anti-aircraft fire. Garland's aircraft was shot down over the bridge; he died along with his observer, Sergeant Gray, and gunner, LAC Reynolds.

The second Battle, Pilot Officer McIntosh's, was set on fire, and forced to crash-land; its crew were captured.

The third Battle, flown by Sergeant Marland, fell in turn just after releasing its bombs; there were no survivors. The bridge had, however, suffered serious damage on the western end of the bridge, which was attributed to Garland's bombs. Garland and Gray were awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously.

1944: An advance in Italy by the 8th Punjab Regiment became pinned down by German machine-gun fire. Sepoy Kamal Ram managed to work his way round behind the German position, and mounted a lone attack on two German machine-gun nests, knocking them both out. He was then joined by a comrade, and together they eliminated a third machine-gun team, allowing the advance to continue. Kamal Ram received the Victoria Cross.

1945: In Burma, a platoon of the 8th Gurkha Rifles came under attack, the Japanese outnumbering the defenders 10:1. Two grenades landed in the trench of Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung, but he threw both back at the enemy. However, when he picked up a third Japanese grenade, it exploded in his hand. He lost most of his right hand, and suffered appalling injuries down his right side. Nevertheless, he managed to load and fire his rifle with just his left hand, and fought on for four hours until the attack had been defeated. He received the Victoria Cross.

Also in the Far East, Corporal Mackey led a section of Australian Pioneers in an attack along a narrow ridge on Tarakan Island, Borneo. Unable to manoeuvre to a flank due to the terrain, the Australians were forced into a frontal assault. Mackey charged two positions in turn, including a machine-gun, and was killed fighting with the defenders of a third. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.