1917: The Austro-Hungarian navy launched a surprise raid on the Allied anti-submarine barrage across the Adriatic at the Straits of Otranto. The barrage comprised a large number of British drifter fishing boats converted for anti-submarine service, deploying a network of submerged nets to prevent Austro-Hungarian and German U-boats based in the Adriatic reaching the Mediterranean. The drifters were backed up by heavier Royal Navy, Italian and French warships based on Italy's east coast. Captain Horthy led three fast light cruisers - Novara, Saida and Helgoland south in an evening sortie against the barrage. They encountered an Italian convoy and quickly sank the escort destroyer and one of the merchantmen, then set about the 49 drifters on barrage duty. Hopelessly outgunned, the drifters nevertheless put up a fierce resistance, but 14 were sunk. In one incident, Joseph Watt, skipper of Gowan Lea, fought a short gunnery duel with one of the cruisers. The trawler was quickly wrecked, and the cruiser moved on, assuming Gowan Lea to be finished. Watt and his crew, however, not only managed to keep the trawler afloat, but went to the aid of another badly damaged drifter, Floandi, rescuing the crew. Watt received the Victoria Cross.

The nearest Allied squadron was at Brindisi, under the command of the Italian Rear Admiral Acton. The light cruiser HMS Bristol was at the highest readiness for steam and put to sea quickly with two Italian destroyers, while Acton followed as soon as he could in HMS Dartmouth - probably the only time an Italian Admiral flew his flag in action aboard a Royal Navy ship. Bristol and Dartmouth caught Horthy as he headed towards the Italian light cruiser Aquila, which had been stopped by a lucky hit on her steam-pipes; in turn the British cruisers hit Saida, whereupon Horthy turned for home. In the chase that followed, Bristol fell behind, leaving Dartmouth to pursue on her own. She inflicted heavy damage on Novara, but Acton eventually called a prudent halt to the pursuit as they approached Austrian waters and a potential ambush. Indeed, as Dartmouth turned for Brindisi, she was hit by a torpedo from a U-boat and suffered severe damage.

1940: As the German advance continued through Belgium and northern France, 2nd Lieutenant Annand of the Durham Light Infantry distinguished himself in an action at the River Dyle. His skilful use of hand grenades inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, but he in turn was wounded. However, his injuries having been dressed, he returned to the front line and led another attack. Eventually his platoon was forced to withdraw, but Annand realised that his batman was missing. He went forward alone, and found his batman lying wounded. Although by now himself weakened by his injuries, he found a wheelbarrow and managed to carry the wounded man back to safety. Annand collapsed from loss of blood, but recovered to receive the Victoria Cross.

1945: Australian troops at Wewak in New Guinea were held up by a Japanese bunker. Private Kenna stood up only fifty yards from the bunker, firing his Bren Gun from the hip, then, when the magazine ran out, a rifle. He was completely exposed to enemy fire the whole time, with rounds passing between his limbs and his body. Miraculously he avoided injury, and thanks to his selfless courage, the position was taken without further Australian losses. Kenna was awarded the Victoria Cross.