Australian soldiers (left) form a guard of honour during a church service in the Amiens Cathedral ...

Australian soldiers (left) form a guard of honour during a church service in the Amiens Cathedral possibly to give thanks for the approaching end of the war. Note the 49th Battalion colour patch worn on the right shoulder of the Lance Corporal (left). At rear, thick sloping walls of sandbags protect the interior of the church from artillery fire. Standing on a plinth (centre) is a statue of the Miraculous Virgin Mary of Albert from the Basilica of Notre Dame de Brebieres. There were two statues, one (the one in the photo) was centuries old and had miracles ascribed to it. It became a centre of worship and pilgrimage [it survived the Spanish invasion in the 17th century and was hidden during the French Revolution]. A chapel was built to house it and later, between 1883-1887, the basilica was built for it. The other 'golden virgin' statue which was on top of the basilica was made by the sculptor M. Delaplanche and was blessed by the Bishop of Amiens in 1887 to go on the steeple of the basilica. It was destroyed in 1918, but replaced by a replica after the war.