A closeup of the rocky outcropping known as point 593. The point lies north of the abbey and marks the west end of Snakeshead ridge.

In the meantime, additional elements of the division were to sweep across the slopes and ravines in a direct assault on the monastery. This was across appalling terrain, but it was hoped that the Gurkha troops, from the Himalayas and so expert in mountainous terrain, would succeed. This proved a faint hope. It became clear that the attack had failed, and on February 18 Dimoline and Freyberg called off the attacks on Monastery Hill.