▁the ▁First ▁Battle ▁of ▁Vill ers - Bre ton ne ux , ▁but ▁was ▁holding ▁the ▁division ' s ▁front ▁line ▁( 3 rd ▁B n ▁right , ▁ 2 / 2 nd ▁B n ▁centre ▁and ▁ 2 / 4 th ▁B n ▁left ) ▁when ▁the ▁German ▁Second ▁Army ▁launched ▁the ▁Second ▁Battle ▁of ▁Vill ers - Bre ton ne ux ▁on ▁ 2 4 ▁April . ▁The ▁German ▁bar rage ▁fell ▁at ▁ 0 4 . 0 0 , ▁including ▁a ▁high ▁proportion ▁of ▁gas ▁shell s , ▁and ▁caused ▁serious ▁cas ual ties ▁to ▁the ▁def ending ▁companies . ▁The ▁attack ▁came ▁at ▁different ▁times . ▁At ▁H ang ard ▁Wood ▁in ▁the ▁centre , ▁ 2 / 2 nd ▁B n ▁was ▁attacked ▁at ▁about ▁ 0 6 . 0 0 , ▁and ▁the ▁S OS ▁rock ets ▁calling ▁for ▁art illery ▁support ▁could ▁not ▁be ▁seen ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁mist . ▁When ▁a ▁message ▁got ▁through ▁to ▁the ▁British ▁guns ▁their ▁fire ▁fell ▁short , ▁on ▁the ▁def enders . ▁Nevertheless , ▁the ▁three ▁front ▁line ▁companies ▁held ▁their ▁position . ▁ 2 / 4 th ▁Battalion ▁on ▁the ▁left ▁was ▁attacked ▁out ▁of ▁the ▁mist ▁by ▁six ▁German ▁A 7 V ▁t anks ▁and ▁fell ▁back , ▁un cover ing ▁the ▁fl ank ▁of ▁ 2 / 2 nd ▁B n . ▁C ▁Company ▁of ▁ 2 / 2 nd ▁was ▁sent ▁up ▁as ▁rein for c ements , ▁carrying ▁extra ▁am mun ition , ▁but