The Chavonnes Cannon Battery Museum on Clock Tower Square and the Cannon Association of South Africa will give Capetonians a rather loud taste of Napoleonic-era warfare when they commemorate the 203rd anniversary of the Battle of Blaauwberg.

The commemoration will recognise all the Cape soldiers, of differing races, who fought valiantly alongside other troops of the Batavian Republic against a much larger British invasion force.

The result of the battle changed the course of South African history.

The commemoration will kick off on Tuesday 6 January, and from then until Friday 9 January two muzzle-loading cannons will be fired outside the Chavonnes Cannon Battery Museum – one at 12 o'clock, just after the Noon Gun, and the other at 2pm.

On Saturday 10 January there will be a six-gun salute at 11am, a six-shot "ripple" at 12 noon, then a three-gun salute at 1pm and a full-on broadside at 2pm. On Sunday 11 January there will again be one-gun salutes at noon and 2pm.

Spectators can watch the firing from the Clock Tower Square and also visit the Chavonnes Cannon Battery Museum, which will have special displays of antique cannon and artifacts inside, including a beautiful diorama showing how the battle was fought.

The Chavonnes Battery site guide and members of the Cannon Association will be on hand to tell visitors about the museum, the battle and the exhibits. A guided tour of the museum will be available just after every firing.

Six Gun Salute at Chavonnes Cannon Museum:

Date: 6 – 11 January 2009
Venue: Chavonnes Cannon Museum
Location: V&A Clocktower
Price: R20p/p – R10 for children under 6

This New Year is certainly starting off with a bang, especially at the Six Gun Salute at Chavonnes Cannon Museum! Subscribe to our Editor’s Pick’s Newsletter for all the best Cape Town events and things to do in 2009.