Honoured Dead Memorial

The Honoured Dead Memorial is a sandstone structure standing where five roads meet, featuring bronze plaques and displaying the Long Cecil gun on its base. Artillery shells from the Boer forces are arranged around the perimeter, accessible via staircases.

The memorial was completed in 1902 to honor 27 soldiers who died protecting the city during its 124-day siege from October 1899 to February 1900. This period remains central to how the city remembers its past.

An inscription by Rudyard Kipling marks those who defended the city during the conflict. The words chosen for this memorial reflect how deeply the siege shaped the community's memory.

The site sits at a busy intersection in the city center, so approach carefully when viewing the memorial. Access to different areas of the structure requires climbing stairs.

The Long Cecil gun was designed and built by George Labram during the siege using facilities at De Beers workshops. This handmade defensive weapon reveals the resourcefulness of those trapped inside.