Northumbrian Gunner: Arras - Notre Dame de Lorette

Friday 24 March 2017

Arras - Notre Dame de Lorette

Notre Dame de Lorette
Monument / Basilica / Cemetery

Between October 1914 and October 1915, three major battles were fought between the French and Germans for control of the vital high ground of Notre Dame de Lorette.

First Battle of Artois (27 September – 10 October 1914)

Second Battle of Artois (9-15 May 1915)

Third Battle of Artois (25 September – 15 October 1915)

Battle for Notre Dame de Lorette 1914

The Notre Dame de Lorette is now the location Ablain St Nazaire Military Cemetery which is, the largest French military cemetery in the world. The cemetery contains 40,058 casualties buried in individual graves or in massed graves (ossuaries).

The site includes a Basilica and a Tower Monument containing an eternal flame.

Ablain Military Cemetery
Notre Dame de Lorette

A small chapel had been constructed on the Notre Dame de Lorette in 1727 by a native of the village below the feature, Ablain Saint Nazaire. A painter called Nicolas Florent Guilbert built it to give thanks for the cure of his illness following a pilgrimage to Loreto in Italy. It was destroyed during the French Revolution in 1794 and rebuilt in 1815.

Notre Dame de Lorette Chapel pre WW1

It was destroyed again one hundred years later in the fighting for control of the hill.

Notre Dame de Lorrette Chapel WW1 Damage

Notre Dame de Lorette Chapel WW1 Destruction
Improvised Chapel

The large loss of life in securing the Notre Dame de Lorette and the surrounding area gave a focus for the development of the Cemetery. The cemetery grew from 1919 onwards as casualties from across the Battlefield were brought together.

Ablain Saint Lorette Military Cemetery
Notre Dame de Lorette

The cemetery also contains 8 ossuaries which contain the remains of unknown soldiers.

Ablain Saint Lorette Military Cemetery Ossuaries
Notre Dame de Lorette

The foundation stones for the Lantern Tower and Basilica were laid in January 1921. The Lantern Tower was inaugurated in August 1925. The Basilica was consecrated in October 1931.

Ablain Saint Lorette Military Cemetery Lantern Tower
Notre Dame de Lorette

Ablain Saint Lorette Military Cemetery Basilica
Notre Dame de Lorette

Basilica Notre Dame de Lorette
Selfie

The inside of the Basilica is decorated with mosaics and the walls are covered with memorial plaques placed by the families of those who were lost.

Basilica Notre Dame de Lorette

The main chapel, Chapelle de Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix, is dominated by a mosaic representing the Risen Christ in his Halo of Glory with open arms to welcome the world, below which is the the inscription Pax Hominibus - Peace.

Chapelle de Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix
Risen Christ Mosaic

There are two transepts to the basilica housing side chapels. The first is dedicated to Bishop Julien of Arras, who consecrated the basilica and contains his tomb.

Basilica Notre Dame de Lorette
Bishop Julien Of Arras

The other transept contains a secondary altar, funded by the Polish community of miners of Pas-de-Calais dedicated to our Lady of Czestochowa.

Basilica Notre Dame de Lorette
Lady of Czestochowa

Basilica Notre Dame de Lorette
Broken Crucifix

Among the individuals commemorated in the Basilica are Mademoiselle Louise de Bettignies, executed in 1915 for espionage, and Francois Faber, winner of the 1909 Tour de France , killed 9th May 1915, during the 2nd Battle of Artois.