Editing First day on the Somme (section)

=====Ovillers=====
{{main|Capture of Ovillers}}
The [[8th Division (United Kingdom) in the First World War|8th Division]] attacked the Ovillers spur, north of the Albert–Bapaume road. The division had to cross {{cvt|750|yd}} of no man's land and advance towards German trenches sited to exploit spurs running down from the ridge. The only approach to the German lines was up Mash Valley, under the guns in La Boisselle to the south, Ovillers to the front and the Thiepval spur to the north. All three brigades attacked, the 23rd Brigade up Mash Valley, where {{circa| 200 men}} reached the German second trench and then held about {{cvt|300|yd}} of the front trench, until {{nowrap|9:15 a.m.}} The centre brigade reached the second line, before being forced back to the British front line and the left-hand brigade managed to reach the third trench, while German counter-bombardments cut off the leading troops from reinforcements. Co-ordination by the British artillery and infantry failed, the field artillery lifting to the final objective and the heavy artillery lifting an hour before the attack, leaving the German defenders unmolested as they repulsed the infantry.{{anchor|Glory Hole}}{{sfnm|1a1=Edmonds|1y=1993|1pp=371–375, 385–389|2a1=Sheffield|2y=2003|2pp=52–54}} Ovillers was defended by Infantry Regiment 180, which had suffered {{nowrap|192 casualties}} in the bombardment. Many of the German defences were smashed, except on their right at The Nab. The British advance was met by massed small-arms fire at {{cvt|100|yd}}, which cut down many men, after which a bombing fight began. British penetrations were contained by German troops in communication trenches on the flanks. The two battalions of the regiment in the area suffered {{nowrap|280 casualties}} and the 8th Division {{nowrap|5,121.}}{{sfn|Edmonds|1993|pp=391–393}}