while three batteries of british field guns bombarded the boer position, and the 1st battalion, the devonshire regiment advanced frontally in open order, the main attack commanded by colonel ian hamilton (1st battalion, the manchester regiment, 2nd battalion, the gordon highlanders and the dismounted imperial light horse) moved around the boers' left flank. the sky had steadily been growing dark with thunderclouds, and as the british made their assault, the storm burst. in the poor visibility and pouring rain, the british infantry had to face a barbed wire farm fence, in which several men were entangled and shot. nevertheless, they cut the wire or broke it down, and occupied the main part of the boer position.