He was 27 years old, and a Sergeant in the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place on 31 July 1917 at the Yser Canal, Belgium during the Third Battle of Ypres for which he was awarded the Venture capital. His citation read:
Bye, who moved to Nottinghamshire to work as a coal miner, also served in World World War II as a sergeant major in the Sherwood Foresters guarding prisoners of war until ill health (arising from his pit work) forced him to leave the army. He then served in the Home Guard and as a temporary police constable.