the capture of Contalmaison cost the 69th Brigade and the 17th (Northern) Division suffered from 1 to 11 July. Subsequent operations Ovillers was re-captured by the Germans on 25 March 1918, after a retreat by the 47th (1/2nd London) Division and the 12th (Eastern) Division during Operation Michael, the German spring offensive. In the afternoon, air reconnaissance saw that the British defence of the line from Montauban and Ervillers was collapsing and the RFC squadrons in the area made a maximum effort to disrupt the German advance. The German garrison in the village ruins and vicinity resisted an attack on 24 August but were by-passed on both flanks by the 38th (Welsh) Division two days later, during the Second Battle of Bapaume and retreated before they could be surrounded. Notes Footnotes References Further reading External links Photo essay, Contalmaison Conflicts in 1916 1916 in France Battle of the Somme Battles of the Western Front (World War I) Battles of World War I involving France Battles of World War I involving Germany Battles of World War I involving the United Kingdom July 1916 events