High Wood
47th Div was in action here and also on both sides of the wood.
East of the wood 1/7th and 1/15th Bns, London Regt advanced on the Switch Line at
The attack on the wood was supported by four tanks. Only one reached the German lines where it did some damage in the German support line until put out of action. The other three tanks all broke down in No Man’s Land. The infantry assault was stopped by MG fire and the fighting in High Wood became very confused when, at
The fighting in the wood continued all morning until a mortar bombardment on the wood in conjunction with a bombing attack on the flanks broke the German resistance. The survivors of 141 Bde were in control of the wood by
At
Flers
The attack on Flers began from Delville Wood.
The New Zealand Div attacked from North of Longueval towards the German positions west of Flers. 2nd Bn, the Otago Regt and 2nd Bn Auckland Regt advanced 30 seconds early and were caught in their own barrage as well as suffering from MG fire from High Wood. They managed to capture the Switch Line and 2nd Auckland Regt also occupied
41st Div was in action in Flers itself. It attacked from north of Delville Wood with 124 Bde on the right and 122 Bde on the left. The attack commenced at
122 Bde attacked with 15th Bn, Hampshire Regt and 18th Bn, King’s Royal Rifle Corps in front and 11th Bn, Royal West Kents with 12th Bn East Surrey Regt in support. They too the Switch Line by 6.4 and advanced to Flers Trench. No less than seven tanks supported the assault of 41st Div. D15 was knocked out at the Switch Line, D14 ditched south of the village while D18 was hit in front of Flers Trench but was able to withdraw.
At
Meanwhile 124 Bde attacked with 10th Bn, Queen’s Regt and 21st Bn, King’s Royal Rifle Corps in the lead with 26th and 32nd Bns, Royal Fusiliers in support. The assaulting troops formed up in No Man’s Land and advanced behind a creeping barrage at
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