 X Corps had a relatively short advance of 700 yards ( 640 m ) to the crest and another 600 yards ( 550 m ) across the summit , which would uncover the German defences further north on the southern slope of the Gheluvelt plateau and the ground back to Zandvoorde . The German defences had been strengthened and had about double the normal infantry garrison . The German artillery concentration around Zandvoorde made a British attack in the area highly vulnerable but the British counter @-@ battery effort suppressed the German artillery , its replies being late and ragged . On the night of 6 / 7 June , gaps were cut in the British wire to allow the troops to assemble in no @-@ man 's @-@ land , ready to attack at 3 : 10 a.m. The 41st Division attacked with two brigades past a mine under the St. Eloi salient , finding the main obstacle to be wreckage caused by the explosion . The 47th and 23rd divisions formed the left defensive flank of the attack , advancing onto the ridge around the Ypres – Comines canal and railway , past the mines at Caterpillar and Hill 60 . The cuttings of the canal and railway were a warren of German dug @-@ outs but the 47th Division , advancing close up to the creeping barrage , crossed the 300 yards ( 270 m ) of the German front position in 15 minutes , German infantry surrendering along the way . Soft ground in the valley south of Mt . Sorrel , led the two infantry brigades of the 23rd Division to advance on either side up to the near crest of the ridge , arriving while the ground still shook from the mines at Hill 60 . 
