2017 Battlefield Tour Page 11

Just like Ypres in Belgium the town of Albert on the Somme was just behind the front line in WW1. It only had a population of 7,000 but its significance was that it was strategically placed as a transport hub with its railway station and road junctions, one of which led to the major town of Amiens, 9 miles to the SW.

The town was briefly taken by the Germans in 1914 but quickly retaken by the French.

The British Army took control of the area in 1915 and hundreds of thousands of British and Commonwealth troops passed through on their way to the front line north and east of the town.

Albert was famous for a golden statue of the Virgin and Child on the dome of the Notre Dame Basilica in the centre of town. On 15 Jan 1915, a German shell struck the tower causing the statue of the Golden Virgin to lean dangerously. It was secured with chains by the Royal Engineers and the ‘Leaning Virgin’ became a legend amongst the troops who believed that when the statue fell the war would end. During the Battle of the Somme in July 1916 the Basilica was used as a Casualty Clearing Station.

On 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, elements of the DLOY were in trenches a mile north of the town as Cavalry support to 34 Div who attacked the German stronghold of La Boiselle.

In March 1918 Albert was taken by the Germans in the Spring Offensive and the tower was used by artillery observers. Although being ordered not to fire directly on the Basilica, on 16 April 1918 British gunners fired directly over it at trench targets and some drop short shells hit the tower accidentally on purpose bringing the Leaning Virgin down. The town was retaken by the British for the last time in August 1918.