Albert (Somme)

Albert is an industrial town on the Ancre with a population of 6,750. The church of Notre-Dame Brebrieres was restored in recent years and attracts pilgrims. The village was called Ancre until the reign of Louis XIII, who presented it in 1617 to Charles d'Albert, Duc de Luynes.

Also known as Bert, the town of the leaning virgin (on the above-named church), as a result of heavy shell fire that destroyed most of the town.

1914

 * - begins.
 * - Battle of Albert ends.

1915

 * - – German attack NNE of.
 * – Failure of German attacks in the region.
 * – 23 aeroplanes raid German camp.

1918

 * - Germans take Albert and Montdidier, within 12 miles of Amiens.
 * - British Fourth Army and the French Third Army attacked under Sir Douglas Haig, with tanks, from Albert to north of Montdidier.
 * - British attack between the Ancre and the Somme, and takes Albert.