For more than two months the Germans continued to hold Thiepval Ridge.  Despite the British creeping slowly towards it from the Leipzig Redoubt and the Australians slowly advancing from Pozières by way of Mouquet Farm, the ridge seemed as impenetrable as it had on July 1.

All the time the Germans held the ridge they were able to direct their Artillery to crush any attack on it. 

On September 3 the 6th West Yorkshires were brought forward into a new jumping-off line which had been dug very close to the German lines of the Schwaben Redoubt.  The target was the so-called ‘Pope’s Nose’ – a small heavily defended salient which jutted out from the German lines.  It was heavily armoured with concrete gun posts dominating every conceivable approach. 

The plan was to take the salient from behind a creeping barrage, an approach which had worked before and which the British were confident would work again. 

Unfortunately, morale amongst the mainly inexperienced British troops was very low.  Under the cover of the barrage they advanced to meet a hail of machine-gun fire from the Germans which brought them to a halt.