barrage moved in five short lifts, from the trench around the west side of the village to the eastern fringe. A smoke screen failed as insufficient ammunition could be carried forward in time but the attack was supported by every machine-gun in the division, firing on the edges of the village and its approaches. The infantry moved forward in four waves, with mopping-up parties following, through return fire from the garrison, uncut wire on the right causing a delay and then reached a trench at the edge of the village, forcing the survivors to retreat into Contalmaison. The waves broke up into groups and advanced faster than the barrage but the divisional artillery commander was able to speed up the creeping barrage. The village was overrun despite determined opposition from parts of the garrison, one British battalion losing and taking from RIR 122. The Germans in the village were from I Battalion, RIR 122 but casualties had reduced the battalion to fewer than Small detachments got into the village to reinforce but casualties from British artillery were constant and the village was reduced to rubble. The final bombardment beginning at broke the resilience of the garrison and about ran back to Bazentin and Pozières. Other troops took refuge in the remaining dugouts in the (Emperor Trench west of the village, Quadrangle Trench to the British) and in village cellars. The alarm was raised at but only emerged from cover in the 3rd and 4th Company area at the west side of the village. Little could be seen through the smoke and dust but German artillery was able to engage the British advancing from the west. The battalion that was delayed at the garden hedge was engaged by the German party still willing to resist, which inflicted about but failed to stop the advance. The commander of I Battalion, RIR 122 was captured at the château, and prisoners being taken, 69th Brigade losses being The troops of the 2nd Company in the south-eastern part of the village were trapped and a counter-attack towards the road junction south of the church was defeated. The company retreated along Pearl Alley, a rearguard holding the Cutting until dark fell. The survivors of the 6th, 10th, 11th and 12th companies in Quadrangle Support Trench were enveloped on three sides and reduced to drinking muddy water from the trench bottom but no attack came. After dark