upon reaching the objective at bukoba the attackers were accidentally landed in a large swamp and were pinned down by fierce rifle and machine gun fire from the german positions. finally managing to escape the swamp, the british force was then stalled by snipers. the attack continued for a further two days in the town; however, casualties were light on both sides. the frontiersmen took the town on 23 june. an australian member of the unit, lieutenant wilbur dartnell, climbed to the top of the town hall and removed the german imperial ensign from the flagpole as a symbolic gesture of victory.