Labram, manufacturer of ‘Long Cecil’ is killed by shell from ‘Long Tom’

Date: 9 Feb 1900
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

George Frederick Labram, manufacturer of a cannon popularly known as 'Long Cecil' in the De Beers' workshop in Kimberley, was killed by a shell from a Boer 'Long Tom' cannon during the siege of Kimberley. Labram, who was chief mechanical engineer at the De Beers Consolidated Mines, manufactured the gun from steel shafting. Within twenty-four days it was shelling the Boer lines. Labram was one of the defendants when Kimberley was under siege by the Boers during Anglo-Boer War 2. He died only a few days before the siege was lifted.

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How we know this

01Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds)(1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town : NASOU, v. 6, p. 513.
02Peddle, D.E., (1997), LONG CECIL The Gun made in Kimberly during the Siege, from South African Military History, [online], Available at samilitaryhistory.org [Accessed: 17 January 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Labram, manufacturer of ‘Long Cecil’ is killed by shell from ‘Long Tom’. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011199

South African History Online (2011) 'Labram, manufacturer of ‘Long Cecil’ is killed by shell from ‘Long Tom’', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011199 (Accessed: 19 August 2026).

South African History Online, Labram, manufacturer of ‘Long Cecil’ is killed by shell from ‘Long Tom’ [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011199, (accessed 19 August 2026).

"Labram, manufacturer of ‘Long Cecil’ is killed by shell from ‘Long Tom’." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011199. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Labram, manufacturer of ‘Long Cecil’ is killed by shell from ‘Long Tom’." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011199.