 In the II Anzac Corps area , the 3rd Australian Division consolidated the southern defensive flank of the attack , digging @-@ in astride the river Douve with its right in the new craters at Trench 122 , defeating several hasty German counter @-@ attacks ; the left flank of the division was anchored by a captured German strong @-@ point . The New Zealand Division attacked Messines village , the southern bastion of the German defences on the ridge . The village had been fortified with a line of trenches around the outskirts and an inner defence zone comprising five pillboxes and all the house cellars , which had been converted into shell @-@ proof dug @-@ outs . Two machine @-@ gun posts on the edge of the village were rushed but fire from Swayne 's Farm 400 yards ( 370 m ) north held up the advance , until a tank drove through it and caused 30 German troops to surrender . The New Zealanders penetrated the outer trenches behind the creeping barrage , which slowed to 100 yards ( 91 m ) in 11 minutes ; the German garrison defended the village with great determination , before surrendering when the garrison commander was captured . The 25th Division took the Messines – Wytschaete road on the ridge , north of the New Zealand Division with little opposition except at Hell Farm , which was eventually overrun . 
