History - Anglo Boer War Artillery
In 1897 the ZAR bought its heaviest ammunition, namely four siege cannons (155 mm calibre) from Schneider & Co., Le Creusot, France. Each cannon weighed 5 700 kg and could shoot a distance of about 9 kilometres. These cannons were placed at the four forts around Pretoria.
1899 : The four cannons were transferred to Mafikeng (1), Kimberley (1), and Ladysmith (2) at the outbreak of the Anglo Boer War. The British Forces gave these cannons the nickname 'Long Tom' probably as a result of the long barrel or the long firing distance. June 1899 : The four cannons were brought to safety in the Eastern Transvaal. August 1900 : After the battle of Dalmanutha (Bergendal) three of the cannons were moved to Belfast and Komatipoort. The one at Komatipoort was destroyed in September 1900.
September 1900 : The Lydenburg Commando bombarded the British Forces of Gen. Buller with their short Long Tom, known as 'Die Jood' (The Jew), at the Steenkamp mountains, southwest of Lydenburg. October 1900 : A Long Tom cannon was destroyed in the Northern Transvaal, between Haenertsburg and Magoebaskloof. April 1901 : The Long Tom at Ohrigstad was destroyed on the farm Rietfontein in the Lydenburg District after having exhausted its ammunition supply.
| Posted: 2010/01/25 | |
