 The covering artillery barrage commenced at 5 : 30 am and three battalions of the Rifle Brigade moved off towards its first objective , the railway line , which established a continuous front west of Le Quesnoy . This was captured by 7 : 29 am . A reserve company moved to the railway line to hold it , while the attacking battalions moved forward . A platoon of the reserve company had to deal with 150 Germans , who were retreating from the advance of the flanking 37th Division and quickly secured their surrender . By 10 : 00 am , the battalions of the Rifle Brigade had surrounded Le Quesnoy and established a new front line 1 @-@ mile ( 1 @.@ 6 km ) to the east of the town . The 1st Infantry Brigade moved off to the Mormal Forest , leaving the Rifle Brigade to complete its planned move into the town . The German garrison , despite being surrounded , did not make any indications of surrender . 
