The Famous Leaning Madonna and Child in Albert

The French city of Albert was held by the Allies from September 1914. It was a strategic supply point in the famous 1916 Battle of the Somme. However, forced to retreat in 1918, the British destroyed the famous, leaning, ‘Virgin and child’ statue on the tower of the basilica of Notre Dame be Brebières. They obliterated the whole church in belief that it could be used as a German observation post. Interestingly, the English propaganda at the time suggested the Germans needlessly destroyed it.