the 17th (Northern) Division was ordered by Horne, against objections from Pilcher and the brigadiers that the trenches would become untenable under machine-gun fire from Contalmaison and Mametz Wood. A bombardment was fired on the German front line and Contalmaison, increased in intensity for the last ten minutes, during which two 52nd Brigade battalions and one from the 51st Brigade began their advance. The Germans were alert and opened fire under the light of flares behind a defensive barrage. The leading waves were also hit by British shells falling short, found that the German wire was uncut and fell back to the start-line. The 183rd Division took over the front line on the night of Infantry Regiment 183 from Grenadier Regiment 9 from Ovillers to Contalmaison and RIR 122 from IR 163 in Contalmasion eastwards to the south-west of Mametz Wood; Infantry Regiment Lehr along the south edge of the wood and Flat Iron Copse, was left behind. Part of the left-hand battalion got into Pearl Alley and some found themselves in Contalmaison, before being driven back from the village and Pearl Alley by IR Lehr and the bombers of GR 9. The Germans tried to extend their counter-attacks from the east of Contalmaison, towards the advanced positions of the 17th (Northern) Division, which were eventually repulsed at about If the night attack failed, the preliminary bombardment from was to continue for another thirty minutes. The III Corps was informed in time for the attack and that the 17th (Northern) Division would try again at the same time. The barrage began promptly and a German counter-bombardment started on the line of the night attack. Communication forward from the 17th (Northern) Division headquarters was so slow that the troops of the 52nd Brigade were late and the barrage had lifted. When the attack began the troops were caught by machine-gun fire from Mametz Wood; the survivors were ordered back apart from a few advanced posts. On the right, a battalion of the 50th Brigade had tried to bomb up Quadrangle Alley but was driven back and a company which tried to move up the west side of Mametz Wood were caught by machine-gun fire from Strip Trench and lost half their number. In the III Corps area on the left flank, the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division was to advance as the 24th Brigade drew level on the right but was delayed