 The night before the attack, a battalion assault by the Canadians captured a particularly troublesome German pillbox on the northern bank of Ravebeek creek, which had held up the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade during the first stage.The action advanced the southern edge of the 3rd Canadian Division parallel with the line of the 4th Canadian Division to the south.The main attack began at on 30 October, preceded by a rolling barrage and a preliminary artillery bombardment directed largely at pillboxes.