1915: On the Western Front, the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs twice attempted to insert a bombing party into a key position to attack strong German defences with grenades. Both attempts failed with heavy losses amongst the volunteers. Lieutenant Smyth nevertheless offered to lead a third attempt. Of the ten volunteers accompanying him, eight were killed or wounded, but Smyth and and two Sikhs managed to reach the position with some 100 grenades, despite having to swim across a stream under machine-gun fire. Smyth received the Victoria Cross.

1941: South of Crete, a hospital ship came under attack from German dive-bombers. HMS Coventry came to her aid, and herself came under heavy attack. A burst of machine-gun fire struck a director position controlling Coventry's anti-aircraft fire. One round hit Petty Officer Sephton, mortally wounding him, and passed through his body to injure the seaman next to him. Despite his wound, Sephton remained at his post and continued to operate the gun directing equipment until the air attack had been driven off. He died of his injuries the following day, and was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.