Nine corps of the French Sixth Army and the British Fourth and Third armies , attacked Attack the German 2nd Army ( General Fritz von Below ) from Foucaucourt south of the Somme northwards across the Ancre to Serre and at Gommecourt , beyond , in the Third Army area .

The VII Corps diversion at Gommecourt was also costly , with only a partial and temporary advance Cause_to_make_progress south of the village .