"Side view of Church Albert". This inscription was recorded on the back of the original ...

"Side view of Church Albert". This inscription was recorded on the back of the original photograph by the photographer. Albert was a major British centre and defended stoutly against German attack, although the city suffered heavy damage from artillery bombardment. Before the war Albert with the Golden Madonna basilica was a popular tourist destination. The statue of the Virgin Mary holding aloft the baby Jesus was allegedly found by a shepherd in the middle ages was credited with miraculous properties and the church received many pilgrims. During the German bombardment in 1915 the church tower was hit and the Madonna toppled and hung precariously. The French secured the Madonna as best they could and the statue remained so like a diver in flight that Australians christened her Fanny Durack, after the famous Australian swimmer who won the 100 meters gold medal at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games. A superstitious legend became popular among both German and British troops, that whoever knocked the statue down would lose the war. Albert was eventually captured during the 1918 German Spring Offensive and the statue was knocked down by British artillery. The Madonna was never found and a replica now adorns the reconstructed basilica. This photograph is one of a series taken by Cpl Nenke, or with his camera. Cpl Nenke was a despatch rider in the 1st Divisional Signal Company (1DSC). Soldier photographers taking photographs in active service areas in France or Belgium are rare, as discovery usually resulted in Court Martial. It is considered that this photograph was among the personal effects of 3120 Sergeant N M Pontin, who served in the 14th and 46th Battalion, and repatriated to his next-of-kin in Australia, after he was killed in action on 11 April 1917. Cpl Nenke was also killed in action on 10 August 1918.