1874: The most serious action of the Ashanti War was fought at Amoafu where Sir Garnet Wolseley prevailed, leading a force of 2,200 British and African troops and police against Kofi Karikari, the aggressive Asantehene.

1879: An escorted British convoy came under attack in Afghanistan. Among the casualties was an Indian cavalryman of the 13th Bengal Lancers, who fell wounded from his horse and continued to come under heavy fire from tribesmen. Lieutenant Hart of the Royal Engineers ran no less than 1,200 yards through the firing to reach the wounded man. He then proceeded to defend him, driving away the closest attackers until other soldiers were able to join him and help carry away the casualty. Hart received the Victoria Cross.

1917: Germany served notice it was beginning a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare

1918: A tragic series of accidents befell two flotillas of Royal Navy submarines working with the Grand Fleet at night: Operation E.C.1, usually called by the sardonic name of the Battle of May Island, or sometimes the geographically correct Battle of the Isle of May, was a disastrous series of accidents amongst Royal Navy ships on their way from Rosyth in Scotland to fleet exercises on the misty night of 31 January to 1 February 1918. This saw the loss of two submarines, damage to three other submarines and a light cruiser, and the deaths of over 100 men, all of the Royal Navy. Although it took place during the First World War it was an entirely accidental tragedy and no enemy forces were present.

1941: Second Lieutenant Premindra Singh Bhagat of the Royal Bombay Sappers & Miners began a remarkable four-day mine-clearing effort in Abyssinia as British and Indian troops pursued retreating Italian forces. He and his men cleared mines along some 55 miles of tracks. His Bren Gun carrier was twice knocked out by mines, he was also ambushed, and one of his ear-drums was shattered by an explosion. Nevertheless, he continued to lead tirelessly from the front, and was awarded the Victoria Cross.

1942: British forces withdrew to Singapore, having been driven from the Malayan peninsula, to what was believed to be the impregnable fortress of Singapore.

1943: German forces surrendered at Stalingrad.

1945: In Burma, Royal Marines and Army Commandos of 3 Commando Brigade held off heavy Japanese counter-attacks at Kangaw. At one point, some 300 Japanese concentrated against a position held by just 24 soldiers under Lieutenant Knowland. The crew of a Bren Gun positioned forward were wounded; Knowland went forward, and picking up the Bren Gun fired it standing, fully exposed to the advancing enemy at a range of only ten yards whilst his casualties were helped to reach safety. He continued to lead the defence through twelve hours of continual attack until he finally received a fatal wound. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.