 After the British 5th Infantry Division had achieved its objectives , the 5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade attacked at 04 : 00 on 24 December . Despite intensive artillery support ( 272 guns on a 3 @,@ 500 yards ( 3 @,@ 200 m ) front ) , the tired and understrength New Zealand battalions struggled to make progress . By the afternoon , it had become clear to the New Zealand commander — Bernard Freyberg — that the stubborn defences of the 26th Panzer Division would not be broached . He is reported to have remarked , " It is not a question of further advance , it is a question of holding on to what we have got " . The XIII Corps front was effectively deadlocked and settled into a posture of active defence and patrolling . 
 After the British 5th Infantry Division <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> achieved its objectives , the 5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade attacked at 04 : 00 on 24 December . Despite intensive artillery support ( 272 guns on a 3 @,@ 500 yards ( 3 @,@ 200 m ) front ) , the tired and understrength New Zealand battalions struggled to make progress . By the afternoon , it <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> become clear to the New Zealand commander — Bernard Freyberg — that the stubborn defences of the 26th Panzer Division would not be broached . He is reported to <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>have</mark></a> remarked , " It <a href='negative_concord' title='4'><mark>is</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='5'><mark>not</mark></a><a href='None' title='6'><mark>a</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='7'><mark>question</mark></a> of further advance , it is a question of holding on to what we <a href='been_done' title='8'><mark>have</mark></a> got " . The XIII Corps front was effectively deadlocked and settled into a posture of active defence and patrolling . 
After da British 5th Infantry Division done achieved its objectives , the 5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade attacked at 04 : 00 on 24 December . Despite intensive artillery support ( 272 guns on a 3 @,@ 500 yards ( 3 @,@ 200 m ) front ) , the tired and understrength New Zealand battalions struggled to make progress . By the afternoon , it done become clear to the New Zealand commander — Bernard Freyberg — that the stubborn defences of the 26th Panzer Division would not be broached . He is reported to done remarked , " It ain't no question of further advance , it is a question of holdin on to wht we done got " . TdaXIII Corps front was effectively deadlocked and settled into a posture of active defence and patrolling .