Caster and Pollux

Two 6.3 inch howitzers, nicknamed Castor and Pollux after the mythological “Heavenly Twins”, were sent to Ladysmith from Port Elizabeth where they were discovered in a railway goods shed. They originally came into service in 1878 but were considered obsolete because of their limited range of just over 3000 metres. Their ammunition was very old and unreliable, using black powder that betrayed their position each time they fired. They were initially placed at the Devon’s Post under the command of Captain W.H. Christie and were manned by men from the 10th Mountain Battery.

On 28th November 1899 they were moved from Devon’s Post to the neck between Wagon Hill and Wagon Point where they damaged Fiddling Jimmy on Middle Hill killing nine of the enemy. As retaliation Puffing Billy, on Umbulwane, planted a shell into one of the howitzers and, what little damage was done, was speedily repaired by the Army Ordnance Corps. On 12th December the howitzers were moved to a position about 250 metres in front of Ration Post.  

On 18th December 1899 the breast of one of the carriages was struck by a shrapnel shell from the Long Tom on Telegraph Hill. Luckily only one man was wounded and the gun was repaired by the Ordnance Depot and returned to action by the 22nd December 1899. The “Twins” fired their last shots on 15th February 1900.