Bottom Wood, the operation costing the 51st Brigade about A battalion of the 62nd Brigade (Brigadier-General Rawling), 21st Division, reached Shelter Wood and Birch Tree Wood to the north-west, assisted by the brigade machine-gun company, having suffered losses from German machine-guns. Many German troops emerged from dug outs to defend the woods and another battalion was sent forward to help. Birch Tree Wood fell but then a German counter-attack by bombers from the right nearly succeeded and slowed the attack on Shelter Wood. Just after British aircraft reported that German troops were advancing from Contalmaison and Rawling planned a pincer attack with a battalion from reserve, covered by Stokes mortar fire. The capture of Shelter Wood was completed and at the German counter-attack on Shelter and Bottom woods was repulsed, mainly by the fire of Lewis guns; the 63rd Brigade formed a defensive flank on the left at Round Wood. About of Infantry Regiment 186 were captured, along with about from Infantry Regiment 23 and RIR 109, 110 and 111. The German battalions were almost destroyed, losing over against a British loss of fewer than The XV Corps divisions began to consolidate south of Contalmaison and repair the roads and light railway. Reports indicated that the German defence had not recovered and the 7th Division was ordered to advance into Mametz Wood on the right of Contalmaison after dark. The 17th (Northern) Division reported that Wood Trench and Quadrangle Trench to the left of the wood were weakly garrisoned and that Peake Woods, half way to Contalmaison were empty. The 21st Division was relieved during the night by the 52nd Brigade, 17th (Northern) Division. By the end of the day, many British officers in the area thought that the Germans were beaten and that an early advance could succeed but Rawlinson was reluctant to act without co-operation from the French. At a meeting on 3 July, the French objected to the effort being made from Longueval to Contalmaison, demanding that operations re-commence north of the Albert–Bapaume road. To prepare an attack on the German second position, the III Corps was ordered to capture Contalmaison and reach a line from Mametz Wood to the far side of Contalmaison, Bailiff Wood and west towards La Boisselle. British: 4–6 July On the night of it began to rain and on 4 July there was a thunderstorm in the afternoon, which flooded trenches and