After fifteen minutes the tanks returned and Farran made his report in true 'Boy's Own paper' style: "The place is stiff with Jerries." Kippenberger asked if he would return in support of the infantry. Farran agreed, but asked if replacements could be found for his two injured men. Two New Zealanders, Private Lewis (a machine gunner) and Private Ferry (a driver) volunteered, and were taken off and given ten minutes of instruction. Said Ferry: "This one pipper bloke was a man of action, he gave us many words of instruction and few of encouragement, finishing up in a truly English manner 'of course you seldom come out of one of these things alive'"
In the meantime the two companies of the 23rd were given their orders, which were brief, to the point and very non-regulation: the following was Captain Harvey's order to 'D' Company. "D Company will be attacking on the left of the road and we have two tanks in support, but the whole show is stiff with Huns. It's going to be a bloody show but we've just got to succeed. Sandy you will be on the right, Tex on the left. Now for Christ's sake get cracking."
In the meantime Kippenberger sent a runner to Lt Col Gray of the 18th Battalion, warning him of the counterattack and telling him to join in. Captain Dawson, who accompanied the runner, recorded that Gray "no sooner grasped Kip's message than he fixed his own bayonet, and jumping out of the ditch, cried 'come on 18th boys, into the village.'"
As the light started to fail the attack moved off, slowly at first but gathering pace as it gained momentum. As the force advanced it increased, as stragglers from a variety of formations tuned round and joined in. The tanks surged ahead up the hill into the town, and behind them a group of Maori soldiers from the 28th New Zealand Battalion began a harka war chant, which was taken up by almost everyone. Gray reported that "I shall never forget the deep-throated wild beast noise of the yelling charging men as the 23rd swept up the road."
As the tanks entered Galatas once again there was uproar of gunfire. Farran's tank careered twice around the square firing wildly at the houses before it was hit and disabled by an anti-tank grenade. Farran, badly wounded, managed to escape. According to one account the amateur crew of the second tank panicked at this point and turned round, heading out of the village. The Official History more charitably records that the amateur driver, Private Lewis, simply lost control of his vehicle. Whatever the cause of its withdrawal, the tank encountered the advancing infantry, who encouraged the tank crew to turn round and head back towards the enemy.
The infantry advanced into the village, clearing the houses with grenades and bayonets. As they reached the square they found it was swept by fire from German troops in the houses on the other side. Rather than lose momentum. Lieutenant Thomas's platoon charged across the square, catching the German defenders in the act of forming up for a counter-attack. Thomas reported that "had our charge been delayed even minutes the position could easily have been reversed." Panicked, the Germans turned and fled. Thomas himself led from the front: by the end of the action his torso had been shredded by shrapnel from a hand grenade and he had a bullet wound in his thigh.
The fighting became more confused as Gray and the 18th Battalion survivors reached the square. Gradually, the New Zealanders cleared each building until only one strong point in the south west corner still held out.
By midnight the New Zealanders had retaken Galatas. The line was stabilised, and the New Zealanders had gained a vital breathing space although at a terrible cost - only four subalterns were left standing by the end of the action. Although a follow up was discussed, the idea was rejected. According to the Official History, "10 Brigade no longer existed as a formation" and Creforce HQ was unwilling to release further reserves.
