in the first stage of the british plan both divisions were to occupy the higher ground either side of willow stream and mametz on the right then take fricourt in the next stage then move through the first german intermediate position and to the second intermediate position across the valley fronting mametz wood with the right in contact with the xiii corps at white trench and the left linked with iii corps at quadrangle trench below contalmaison the objective was chosen as a place from which it would be possible to receive a counter attack with good artillery observation and to have dead ground from which the artillery could begin a bombardment of the german second position if the german defence collapsed the th division in corps reserve would pass beyond and advance through mametz wood up the north side of caterpillar valley to bazentin le grand longueval and ginchy fricourt was not to be attacked frontally but isolated for which the right hand brigade of the th division was to take mameta and then white trench the centre brigade was to form a defensive flank facing fricourt and the wood on the south rise of willow valley and the inner brigades of the th division and st division were to wait in the front line trenches opposite the village until ordered forward by the corps commander