This mine warfare procured no appreciable advantage to either side.
Fresh defences were immediately made on the edge of or near the new craters, in place of those which had been wiped out, and the front line remained practically unchanged until the offensive of the Somme.
On July 1, 1916, the British rushed the German trenches in front of La Boisselle and Ovillers, giving rise to a fierce engagement. After two days of incessant fighting the whole of La Boisselle village was captured. A battalion of the Prussian Guard made a desperate resistance at Ovillers, the survivors—124 men and 2 officers—surrendering only on July 17.
MINE CRATER AT LA BOISSELLE.
Leave La Boisselle on the right, and take N. 29.
Ten yards from milestone "Albert 5 km. 4," take the left-hand road to Ovillers (600 yards distant). Of this village not a wall remains standing.
The road turns to the left and crosses the village, in which numerous shelters and military works can still be seen.