Just came across these 2 pieces of info, the first from Ladysmith, History of the Boer war, the 2nd from the SA cannon association. Neither appear to be fully accurate:
1. The Long Tom on Middle Hill, Fiddling Jimmy (also known as “The Medler”), was moved to Doornkop to defend Vaal Krantz. After Vaal Krantz this Long Tom was moved to Bergendal in the Eastern Transvaal then on to Long Tom Pass.
“Fiddling Jimmy“ was situated on Middle Hill. It was later moved to Telegraph Hill and then Vaalkranz. This Long Tom was damaged by either Caster or Polux on 27th November 1899.
“Faith”, “Hope” and “Charity“ were Boer black powder guns situated on Telegraph Hill.
“Puffing Billy” was a Long Tom situated on Umbulwane. With great presence of mind Louis Botha moved this gun just before General Buller arrived with the relief force. Like the other Long Toms, it used a black powder, giving off white smoke when fired which usually gave the residents plenty of time to take cover.
“Silent Susan” was a 4.7 inch howitzer, so called because it was inaudible until the shell had reached its objective. “Susan” arrived on Pepworth Hill on the 29th October 1899 and remained there until 24th November when she was removed to Gun Hill. It was this gun which was blown up during the Gun Hill sortie on 8th December 1899. The badly damaged gun was taken away to the Railway workshops in Pretoria where it was repaired by having the barrel shortened. Thereafter it became known as “The Jew”. “Silent Susan” fell under the command of Major J.F. Wolmarens of the Staatsartillerie.
2. The Boers had four French Creusot cannon. Those cannon were known as the "long Toms". The Long Toms were breech loading cannon. They were purchased to protect the city of Pretoria from the forts that were built around it. However, these cannon were soon deployed on the battle field and never served their original purpose in the forts.
One of these Creusot cannon was deployed during the Siege of Ladysmith, where its muzzle got badly damaged. after which the cannon was taken back to Pretoria for repairs. The repairs consisted of cutting the damaged piece of muzzle off, after which the Boers called the cannon "the Jew" (as it has been circumcised), while the British referred to it as the "Short Tom".
The Boers destroyed their cannon as they expended all their ammunition, in order to prevent the British from using them against them.
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
