Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.

[Vindex]

I (of course) cannot agree with that and as I try (but fail abysmally) to convince people that the Kennet was NOT a huge obstruction Kind Regards - Deryk

I think perhaps if you were to consider the immediate ground rather than just the water you could perhaps see why there are those of us (Tacitus apart) who have a problem with a river in the equation.

Chalky ground may not get quite as boggy as more clayey ground; you are not, for example, going to disappear up to your knees in wet chalky ground, but it presents its own problems of footing and being able to walk on it unencumbered by arms and armour; not to mention horses, wagons etc etc etc.

Wet chalky ground churns up very quickly and the numbers we are looking at for this particular battle would soon make it virtually unpassable.

Why would any General choose a site which gave him an avoidable hazard unless it was entirely in his favour?

Amongst all the theory and debate, one should bear in mind the practicalities.