The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
The ruins of the Basilica of Notre Dame de Brebieres at Albert. The scene of the leaning Virgin, which was supposed by the French to foretell the end of the war if it fell. It collapsed during operations in the spring of 1918. The leaning Virgin was nicknamed 'Fanny Durack', by Australian troops, after a famous Australian swimmer.
The Basilica of Notre Dame de Brebieres showing the leaning statue of the Virgin, later destroyed by shellfire. The peasants in this area held the superstition that war would end when the Madonna fell
The Basilica of Notre Dame de Brebieres, showing the leaning statue of the Virgin, later destroyed by shellfire. The peasants in this area held the superstition that war would end when the Madonna fel
A French postcard depicting the red brick Basilica of Notre Dame de Brebieres at Albert, as it was before the war, and a portrait of Cardinal Godin. The Basilica of Notre Dame de Brebieres was damaged
Albert, France. c. 1917. Ruins of the Basilica of Notre Dame de Brebieres at Albert after several years of German shelling. The figure of the Madonna hanging from the top of the catheral spire was giv
The ruins of the Basilica of Notre Dame de Brebieres at Albert. (Copied from Imperial War Museum photograph).
The Basilica of Notre Dame de Brebieres at Albert as it appeared in 1919.
