Caesar's FIRST Invasion of Britain - Walmer, Kent, UK. - First of its Kind on Waymarking.com

A large stone commemorating the landing place of Caesar in 55BC, sited on Walmer Green, The Strand, Walmer, Kent. It is inscribed  " The First Roman Invasion of Britain led by Julius Caesar landed near here LVBC"

Caesar's first invasion of Britain was a failure. Caesar's first 'conquest' of Britain came in late summer of 55BC. For the Roman's, anything beyond the 'River Oceanus' was a journey into a land of mystery, of the unknown. Certainly the shores of 'Britannica' had been known since before Caesars arrival, as there had been cross-channel trading going on for centuries but it was only merchants who went to Britain and even then it was only the sea-coast and those parts which are near to Gaul that they were known to visit. But we were still a mysterious race with strange customs.

Caesar had tried to obtain information about these landing places from these merchants in the short time available to him He did send one scouting party ahead of him across the Channel, who took some 5 days to probe the Kent coastline for a suitable landing site. It was little help to Caesar as for what ever reason, he missed Richborough and Caesar's small force arrived (without his cavalry) somewhere between Walmer and Deal and with great difficulty fought off the Britons, who were waiting, and attacked them in the shallows on the beach. With skilful use of his warships offering a barrage of slingshot, arrows and ballista bolts, and the brave Legion X standard bearer, the Romans gained a foothold. The defeated Britons offered hostages.  Unfortunately for Caesar , three or four days later there was a full moon and a high tide  and the Romans, unused to the 6 - 7 metre tidal range of the channel, and a storm, meant their ships at anchor were damaged. Caesar's cavalry had to turn back in the storm - this heartened the locals to fight again. After skirmishes with the Briton's, Caesar had  learned much of the Britons fighting methods and returned to Gaul with hostages before the autumn equinox. It would be another year before Caesar tried again, with a second invasion in July 54BC.

As a suggestion for your visit log, please make every effort to supply a brief-to-detailed note about your experience at the Waymark. If possible also include an image that was taken when you visited the Waymark. Images can be of yourself, a personal Waymarking signature item or just one of general interest that would be of value to others. Sharing your experience helps promote Waymarking and provides a dynamic history of your adventures.