 The Brigade's left flank, occupied by the 6th Battalion of the Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment), was caught in a hail of machine gun fire from an unshelled German position and 409 Officers and Men were killed within barely 100 yards of the British trenches.The rest of the Brigade overcame enfilade fire to secure Gun Trench and managed to hold the position against a ferocious German counterattack over the following 24 hours, until they were finally reinforced and relieved.Although the 37th Brigade had succeeded in their prescribed task this was considered to be only a minor consolation amidst greater failures.