After the fights of 1916, Miraumont was one of the least damaged of the reconquered villages. Many of the houses retained parts of their walls, and some their frame-work, though in a dislocated condition. To-day nothing remains. Of the modern church which used to stand on the highest point of the village, only a fragment of wall remains _(photo, p. 42)_. On the right, in the devastated cemetery which surrounds the church, stands a massive stone monument, erected by the Germans before their retreat of 1917 _(photos, above and below)_. _At the entrance to Miraumont, take the Courcelette road on the right, which crosses the marshes, then passes under the railway bridge and afterwards traverses the site of Petit-Miraumont_ (now razed). _It next climbs the hill on the left bank of the Ancre. Leave the road to Pys on the left, and keep straight on to =Courcelette=._ Numerous shelters, trenches and British and German graves may be seen along the road. The village of Courcelette was taken by the British during the offensive of September 15, 1916. [Illustration: MIRAUMONT. RUINS OF CHURCH AND GERMAN MONUMENT _(1918--see above)_.] THE BRITISH OFFENSIVE OF SEPTEMBER 15, 1916. The First Tanks The British objective was Courcelette, Martinpuich and the neighbouring heights which protected the Bapaume Plateau _(see p. 22)_. [Illustration: MIRAUMONT. BRITISH GRAVES IN FRONT OF CHURCH.] The offensive began on September 15, along a front of about six miles, from the neighbourhood of Combles to the trenches before Pozières. In a few hours, the infantry, preceded in its advance by impassable artillery barrages, carried Martinpuich and the small hills which dominate it. Other detachments captured Courcelette on the left. [Illustration] The fighting was particularly desperate before Courcelette. The first two assaulting waves broke against the double line of enemy trenches, flanked by redoubts and salients armed with mortars and machine-guns. Further artillery preparation was necessary, and it was only at nightfall that the Canadians were able to enter the village. A tank immediately set about clearing the streets. It was in this offensive that tanks were used for the first time, to the great disturbance of the enemy's _morale_. At Martinpuich they crushed down the walls which were still standing, and behind which machine-guns were hidden. [Illustration: COURCELETTE. ALL THAT IS LEFT OF THE CHURCH.] [Illustration: MARTINPUICH. THE CHURCH USED TO STAND HERE.] One tank went for the fortified sugar factory in front of Courcelette village, knocked down the walls, crushed the numerous machine-guns hidden behind them, destroyed all the defence-works and quickly overcame the enemy's resistance. _On leaving Courcelette, take N. 29 on the right towards Pozières and Thiepval (see sketch-map, p. 44)._ [Illustration: BRITISH TANK BETWEEN COURCELETTE AND N. 29.]