to 8 July, led Foch to keep XX Corps stationary, until Trônes Wood, Mametz Wood and Contalmaison were captured. The 39th Division attacked towards Hardecourt on 8 July, after a postponement, caused by a German counter-attack at Bois Favière. The German defence was subjected to a "crushing bombardment" and the village swiftly captured, as the British 30th Division attacked Trônes Wood. The 39th Division was not able to advance further against machine-gun fire from the wood, after a German counter-attack forced back the British 30th Division. Fourth Army La Boisselle The 19th (Western) Division brought forward a second brigade and at on 3 July, a battalion and some specialist bombers attacked between La Boisselle and the Albert–Bapaume road, with a second battalion attacking from the southern flank at In hand-to-hand fighting with troops of Reserve Infantry Regiment 23 of the 12th Reserve Division and Reserve Infantry Regiment 110 of the 28th Reserve Division, were taken and the village was occupied. Red rockets had been fired by the German defenders and a bombardment by artillery and mortars was fired on the village before Infantry Regiment 190 of the 185th Division counter-attacked from Pozières and recaptured the east end of the village. British reinforcements from two more battalions arrived and eventually managed to advance from the original start line, to gain touch with the 12th (Eastern) Division, which dug a trench to the left flank of the 19th (Western) Division after dark. On the right flank, the 34th Division made three attempts to bomb its way to the right flank of the 19th (Western) Division, all of which failed and after dark began to hand over to the 23rd Division. The 34th Division had suffered from 1 to 5 July, which left the 102nd and 103rd brigades "shattered". Rain fell overnight and heavy showers on 4 July lasted all afternoon, flooding trenches and grounding RFC aircraft, apart from a few flights to reconnoitre Mametz Wood. At a brigade of the 19th (Western) Division attacked towards La Boisselle against determined resistance from the garrison, reaching the east end at in a thunderstorm. The 19th (Western) Division attacked again at on 7 July to capture trenches from near Bailiff Wood away, to beyond La Boisselle. Two battalions advanced as close as possible to the bombardment before it lifted and managed to run into it, before reorganising and resuming the advance with a third battalion,