Before dawn on the 27th May, this force crossed the frontier and by dawn were in positions surrounding the fort. Supported by the artillery and machine-guns and by the Royal Air Force, the infantry stormed the fort using, for reputedly the last time in British history, scaling ladders. After some confused fighting, during which one of the Indian battalions was somewhat disconcerted when bombed in error by a British aircraft, the infantry finally surged over the defences and into the fort. Such defenders who had not already escaped fought on bravely until early afternoon when all resistance ceased.