 The attack broke through the German defences in several places . By dawn , the attacking columns from the 51st ( Highland ) Division had reached their intended positions . The infantry dismounted from their Kangaroo APCs within 200 yards ( 180 m ) of their objectives , the villages of <unk> and Saint @-@ Aignan de Cramesnil and rapidly overran the defenders . The columns from the 2nd Canadian Division were delayed by fog and unexpected opposition on their right flank but by noon on 8 August , the Allied forces had captured Verrières Ridge . The novel methods used by Simonds ensured that the attackers suffered only a fraction of the loss which would have been incurred in a normal " dismounted " attack . The Allies were poised to move against Cintheaux , 2 mi ( 3 @.@ 2 km ) south of their furthest penetration but Simonds ordered a halt to the advance , to allow field artillery and the armoured divisions ( 4th Canadian and 1st Polish ) to move into position for the second phase of the operation . 
