The battle started on 20 November 1917 when the British army made significant advances (4 miles) by virtue of its extensive use of tanks (300) for the first time.

[4] Fontaine-Notre-Dame was initially captured but, as the British advance stalled in the following days, soon lost due to "a vigorous [German] counterattack".

[5] General Julian Byng decided to make one more effort on 27 November to try to recapture Fontaine-Notre-Dame and the neighbouring Bourlon Wood, despite the reservations of divisional commander Major-General Fielding who described the idea as, "a dangerous and impracticable undertaking for which there could be no kind of justification.

"[6] The attack commenced at 6.20 a.m. on 27 November 1917 with soldiers of the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards heading for Fontaine-Notre-Dame supported by just 14 (late) tanks and no heavy artillery barrage.

[7][8] The machine gun fire was heavier than expected: Harold Dearden, a doctor attached to the Grenadiers, describing it as sounding like, "one continuous scream".