 The 4th Australian Division continued the attack on the II Anzac Corps front , the right hand brigade reaching the assembly areas by 11 : 30 a.m. , before learning of the postponement . The brigade had to lie on open ground under German artillery and machine @-@ gun fire , which caused considerable loss but the left brigade was informed in time to hold back until 1 : 40 p.m. The bombardment began to creep down the slope at 3 : 10 p.m. at a rate of 100 yards ( 91 m ) in three minutes . The right brigade advanced on a 2 @,@ 000 @-@ yard ( 1 @,@ 800 m ) front towards the Oosttaverne line , from the river Douve north to the Blauwepoortbeek ( Blue Gate Brook ) . German machine @-@ gunners in the pillboxes of the Oosttaverne line caused many casualties but with support from three tanks the Australians reached the pillboxes , except for those north of the Messines – Warneton road . As the Australians outflanked the strongpoints , the Germans tried to retreat through the British barrage , which had stopped moving 300 yards ( 270 m ) beyond the rear trench of the Oosttaverne line . The left brigade was stopped on its right flank by fire from the German pillboxes north of the Messines – Warneton road up to the Blauwepoortbeek , 500 yards ( 460 m ) short of the Oosttaverne line , with many casualties . The left battalion , unaware that the 33rd Brigade ( 11th Division ) to the north had been delayed , veered towards the north @-@ east to try to make contact near Lumm Farm , which took the battalion across the <unk> Spur instead of straight down . The objective was easily reached but at the <unk> , 1 @,@ 000 yards ( 910 m ) north of the intended position . The Australians extended their line further north to Polka <unk> trying to meet the 33rd Brigade , which arrived at 4 : 30 p.m. with four tanks . The brigade took <unk> and Van Hove farms beyond the objective , silencing the machine @-@ guns being fired from them . 
