held back the counter-attack until 4 Squadron RFC observed the attack of the 36th (Ulster) Division beyond the German front line, where it was out of view from the British lines. At a 4 Squadron observer reported that German artillery from Grandcourt to Courcelette, was moving to the rear and at that there was no sign of German troops massing against the redoubt. After an hour, the 36th (Ulster) Division was reported to still hold The Crucifix, to the south-east of the redoubt. Two companies of pioneers tried to dig a communication trench across no man's land but at the attempt was abandoned, which left parties carrying supplies no alternative but to stop or be annihilated as they crossed no man's land in the open. Supplies ran out on the German side and German counter-attacks began on the right flank, at Redoubt and The Crucifix, despite an accurate flank barrage from the French artillery. The 146th Brigade of the 49th (West Riding) Division attacked Thiepval at but stopped after the leading battalion was shot down. A German counter-attack then began on the left flank and was equally visible to the British, who destroyed the attack with Lewis guns and artillery. At two of the 146th Brigade battalions were ordered to Redoubt to reinforce the Irish, who were being forced slowly back by counter-attacks but the leading battalions had been committed to the Thiepval attack and the other two were in the 32nd Division front line. At six companies advanced towards the C Line but were forced back by machine-gun fire. The three recruit companies of IR 180 advanced in lines, from Grandcourt, along the lower slopes of the ridge, to the and then began to bomb up the line towards Redoubt. The Irish troops in were overrun and captured or killed. In the centre, the counter-attack began from (Stuff Redoubt), with three companies of BRIR 8 but was promptly engaged by British artillery and forced under cover. The advance was continued along , which led from Courcelette to Thepval and then moved into the open opposite the south-eastern corner of Redoubt. The fourth company of the battalion, had been intended to move along , so joined the other three companies. By troops in the original front line near St Pierre Divion, had bombed southwards and recovered some of the captured front line. The advance up the had reached the north