It's a popular trope in media (think Red Wedding) but are there actually any events like this?
I'm not sure how to google this. I know about Battle of Copenhagen but don't know enough about Dutch and Britain relations.
When France fell to Germany, Churchill sank their navy so it couldn't be used by the Nazis. 1,300 sailors died. France was ready to kill everything with an English accent. This more than any other situation captures just how desperate and determined England (Great Britain) was. At that moment, they really were standing alone against an army that seemingly could swallow any country at will.
There's a documentary, too. Same name as the wiki. Hope this helps.
http://docuwiki.net/index.php?title=Churchills_Darkest_Decision