The British objective was Courcelette, Martinpuich and the neighbouring
heights which protected the Bapaume Plateau _(see p. 22)_.
[Illustration: MIRAUMONT. BRITISH GRAVES IN FRONT OF CHURCH.]
The offensive began on September 15, along a front of about six miles,
from the neighbourhood of Combles to the trenches before Pozières.
In a few hours, the infantry, preceded in its advance by impassable
artillery barrages, carried Martinpuich and the small hills which
dominate it. Other detachments captured Courcelette on the left.
[Illustration]
The fighting was particularly desperate before Courcelette. The first
two assaulting waves broke against the double line of enemy trenches,
flanked by redoubts and salients armed with mortars and machine-guns.
Further artillery preparation was necessary, and it was only at
nightfall that the Canadians were able to enter the village. A tank
immediately set about clearing the streets.
It was in this offensive that tanks were used for the first time, to
the great disturbance of the enemy's _morale_.
At Martinpuich they crushed down the walls which were still standing,
and behind which machine-guns were hidden.
[Illustration: COURCELETTE. ALL THAT IS LEFT OF THE CHURCH.]
[Illustration: MARTINPUICH. THE CHURCH USED TO STAND HERE.]
One tank went for the fortified sugar factory in front of Courcelette
village, knocked down the walls, crushed the numerous machine-guns
hidden behind them, destroyed all the defence-works and quickly
overcame the enemy's resistance.
_On leaving Courcelette, take N. 29 on the right towards Pozières and
Thiepval (see sketch-map, p. 44)._
[Illustration: BRITISH TANK BETWEEN COURCELETTE AND N. 29.]
_On the right of the road stand_ the ruins of a large sugar factory
with a concrete observation-post. _Further on, also to the right_,
there is a cross erected by the British.
[Illustration: THE SUGAR REFINERY BETWEEN COURCELETTE AND POZIÈRES.