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Long Tom Cannon
Monument This
replica of a Creusot siege cannon stands 21 km from Sabie
on the Lydenburg Road (R37). The monument marks the spot where, from 8 to
11 September 1900, two of these cannons were use for the last
time by the Boer commandos against the British army. These
cannons - with their long barrels - were nicknamed the "Long
Toms" by the British forces.
Photo: Willie Jacobs
 In April 1897 South Africa purchased four of these cannons
with 8 800 shells. The cannons were stationed at the four forts around the
City of Pretoria. During the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) these
cannons were used by the Boer commandos as field guns against the
British army.
The British tried
hard to neutralise these dreaded, formidable weapons and the Boer
forces were determined that these cannons should not fall into British
hands. So, when the shells had been used up, the Boers destroyed the
cannons.
| Specifications: |
| Manufacturer: |
Schneider et Cie, Le
Creusot, France |
| Gun
barrel length: |
4.2 metres (13 feet 11
inches) |
| Gun
barrel mass: |
2 500 kg (5 512 lb) |
| Gun
barrel calibre: |
155 mm (6¼ inches) |
| Striking
distance: |
9 km (5½ miles) |
| Shell
types: |
Grenade, Shrapnel and
Grape-Shot |
| Shell
mass: |
40.6 kg (90 lb) |
| Total
mass: |
6 250 kg (13 800 lb) |
| Total
length: |
7.5 m (24 feet 7
inches) |
| Drawn
by: |
16 oxen |
This monument was erected
in 1984 by the Long Tom-Rapportryers of Sabie, in collaboration with
the FAK, the Federasie van Rapportryerskorpse and Mondi Timber, who
provided the site.
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