The 20th century saw two major world wars and many major and minor conflicts. Who made themselves known through their involvement in those wars and conflicts? Who do we remember? Who were the heroes of the army, navy, and airforce? Who should have been the heroes? What makes someone dedicate their life to the defence of a nation, whether it be on land, at sea, or in the air? What part did these people play in shaping the path of modern British military history? Britain as a nation has always been very proud of its military capabilities and personnel. Presented here is a collection of around 100 mini-biographies, taken from the "Dictionary of National Biography", of some of the people who made the defence of their country their life.