WM0021

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The Long Tom Monument and Cannon in Sabie, Mpumalanga, commemorates the use of the 155 mm Creusot Long Tom cannons during the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902). These cannons were manufactured by the French company Schneider et Cie in Le Creusot, France, and were among the most powerful artillery pieces used by the Boer forces. The specific cannon at the monument is a replica or original piece that represents the guns used by the Boers to bombard British positions during the war, particularly during the sieges of Ladysmith, Mafeking, and Kimberley. The monument is located near the town of Sabie, which was part of the Transvaal Republic at the time. In 1900, the Boer forces retreated through the eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga) as British forces advanced. The Long Tom cannons were often moved by ox-wagon and were critical in delaying British advances. One such cannon was famously destroyed by its own crew near Sabie to prevent capture by the British, a common practice among retreating Boer commandos. The monument serves as a reminder of the region's involvement in the war and the technological and tactical aspects of the conflict. The Sabie area itself was sparsely populated during the war, but the surrounding forests and mountains provided cover for Boer guerrilla units. Today, the Long Tom Monument is a small roadside site that includes the cannon and a plaque, offering visitors insight into the military history of the region. It is one of several Long Tom memorials in South Africa, with others located in places like Pretoria and the Kruger National Park.

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