Long Tom Cannon Monument

This replica of a Creusot siege cannon stands alongside the road from Sabie to Lydenburg.

The monument marks the spot where, from 8 to 11 September 1900, two of these cannon were used for the last time by the Boer commandos against the British army. These cannons - with their long barrels (4,2 metres) - were nicknamed 'Long Toms' by the British forces.

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 they should not fall into British hands. When all the shells had been used up, the Boers destroyed the cannons