Ovillers was delayed by a German attack, after a bombardment which fell on the 49th Division front near the Ancre, then concentrated on the British position in the German first line north of Thiepval. The survivors of the garrison were forced to retreat to the British front line by A German attack on the Salient at from three directions, was repulsed and followed by a bombing fight until the British attack was still carried out and the rest of the German front line in the Salient was captured. The 12th Division and a 25th Division brigade advanced on Ovillers, two battalions of the 74th Brigade on the south side of the Albert–Bapaume road reached the first German trench, where the number of casualties and continuous German machine-gun fire stopped the advance. On 8 July, German counter-barrage on the lines of the 36th Brigade west of Ovillers, caused many casualties but at the British attacked behind a creeping barrage and quickly took the first three German trenches. Many prisoners were taken in the German dugouts, where they had been surprised by the speed of the British advance. The three German battalions lost and withdrew to the second German trench behind outposts; Infantry Regiment 186, II Battalion, Guard Fusiliers and Recruit Battalion 180, had many casualties and withdrew into the middle of the village. In the early hours of the 12th Division tried to bomb forward but found the deep mud a serious obstacle. The 36th Brigade was reinforced by two battalions and managed to struggle forward into the village and the 74th Brigade bombed up communication trenches south-west of the village and reached Ovillers church. At the 74th Brigade attacked again and a battalion advanced stealthily to reach the next trench by surprise, then advanced another by mistake and found itself under a British barrage, until the artillery-fire was stopped and both trenches consolidated. Before dawn, the 14th Brigade of the 32nd Division relieved the 12th Division, which had lost since 1 July. The divisions of X Corps continued the attack on Ovillers, making slow progress against determined German defenders, who took advantage of the maze of ruins, trenches, dug-outs and shell-holes, to keep close British positions and avoid artillery-fire, which passed beyond them. From 9 to 10 July, three battalions of the 14th Brigade managed to advance a short distance on the left side of the village and on 10