 More battalions entered the fray throughout the offensive . Some 14 battalions contributed to five attempts to capture the village of Guillemont between July and September . In the early hours of 8 August , in the third attempt , the 1st , 1 / 5th , and 1 / 8th attacked in conditions that rendered visibility poor . The 1st and 1 / 8th reached the German front @-@ line trenches and entered the village . Their situation deteriorated , however , and the 1 / 8th 's support battalion was driven back by Germans who continued to occupy the first @-@ line trenches . Isolated and contained by counter @-@ attacks , the 1 / 8th and three companies of the 1st were surrounded and mostly captured . The 1 / 8th had been annihilated , with losses amounting to 15 killed , 55 wounded , and 502 missing , while the 1st lost its commanding officer , Colonel Goff , and sustained 239 casualties . The 1st later received a draft of 20 officers and 750 men from the Manchester Regiment . 
