 This time the 27th Battalion was to play a key role . Moving off from positions around La <unk> in the afternoon , the battalion advanced with two companies forward and two back in reserve under the cover of an intense artillery barrage . Due to congestion around the assembly trenches , the battalion arrived at its objective late . Nevertheless , the first wave managed to capture the first line of German trenches and although the follow @-@ up waves became lost amidst thick smoke , the two assault companies began to consolidate their position during the night . In the early morning of 5 August , a heavy German counterattack was launched . This was turned back with considerable cost , with the Germans suffering an estimated 100 men killed and 60 men captured . Following this , the battalion sent out patrols into No Man 's Land as reinforcements were brought up . Later during the day their positions were subjected to heavy shellfire from German guns positioned around Thiepval . Although successful , the attack proved costly with the battalion reporting the following casualties : 40 killed , 289 wounded and 67 missing . Afterwards they were relieved by the 48th Battalion and were eventually transferred to Belgium where they were rested in a ' quiet ' sector south of Zillebeke . 
