His aim was to secure that town and the surrounding high ground from which artillery bombardments could systematically destroy Amiens and render it useless to the Allies.

The subsequent fighting was remarkable on two counts: the first use of tanks simultaneously by both sides in the war, and the night-time counterattack hastily organized by the Australian and British units (including the exhausted 54th Brigade) which dramatically re-captured Villers-Bretonneux and halted the German onslaught.

[3][4][5][b] All the batteries had been shelled heavily with high explosive and gas during the preliminary bombardment, and the Observation Posts (OPs) were blinded by mist.

When the bombardment shifted to the infantry's front line trenches at 06.20, the field batteries responded by firing their pre-planned 'SOS' tasks blindly into the mist.

C Battery slowly turned as the Germans passed, eventually firing into their rear, and contributed significantly to breaking up the attack.

[5] About 11.00 the mist began to clear and the OPs called down shrapnel fire on the massed German infantry with devastating effects.

)[5] Casualties among the gunners were serious: A/CLXXX Bty was in an open position when it was accurately located by German artillery and was forced to withdraw, losing one gun when the horse team was annihilated by a shell.

[5] The Germans renewed their attack at 17.00 as the guns were being withdrawn to new positions, and got within 400 yards (370 m) of the last battery as it pulled back, but were swept away by a counter-attack by the Australians.

[5] An attempt by the Germans to renew the offensive on 5 April failed and by early morning British Empire troops had forced the enemy out of all but the south-eastern corner of the town.