With Hill 112 largely in German hands, a single British infantry battalion of the 43rd Division remained uncommitted. The 5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry originally should have accompanied the tanks of the 4th Armoured Brigade in their personnel carriers to the Orne, but the inability to clear the Germans from Hill 112 and the mounting threat of German attacks at Maltot meant something had to be done to secure the high ground or the drive to the Orne was doomed. The stage was set for "The Butcher's" commitment of the 5th DCLI in a tragic and costly attempt by a single infantry battalion to take the crest of Hill 112 when a brigade had failed to do so in a day-long battle.

The supporting tanks of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment arrived late at the start line and the lead companies advanced without them. The tanks did join the followup companies and participated in suppressing the German fire on the infantry as they climbed the hill. Despite heavy casualties the DCLI forced the Germans from the area west of the small woods. As darkness fell the Germans launched a desperate counterattack that ultimately failed. The British had been driven from Maltot to the east, but had held Eterville and the crest of Hill 112. The commander of the II SS Corps concluded that the threat resulting from the British retention of Hill 112 and Eterville was so great that an immediate counterattack was required to retake both.