The Romans in Westgate

A recruit to the Roman Army

Friday the 7th of December was Roman Day at St. Saviours C. of E. Junior School in Westgate. The Trust were invited to bring some Roman themed activities to the event, as well as Roman objects that the children could use to understand the everyday life of Roman people.

There was also an introduction to the army of Rome, which first conquered Britain in 43 AD and one young recruit was dressed in the full armour of a Legionary soldier and put through his paces as a new recruit to the Roman Army.

Armour and shields of the Roman soldiers

Organised into three legions, under standards bearing each Legion’s symbol, the Lion, the Eagle and the Tiger, the army of Westgatians marched in battle order around their school hall. The noise of their feet and cheering must have been heard in Rome.

A final battle saw two soldiers of each legion defend their standard bearer and legion’s standard with their shields from a ferocious bombardment with rubber balls.

Roman objects on display
Roman objects on display

Surviving with their standards and honour intact the Legions retired from the field to a well-deserved lunch.

Later the demobbed Legionaries had a chance to see and handle a range of Roman artefacts representing the objects of everyday life and personal items, as well as the new building materials and construction methods the Romans brought to Britain.

Everyone signed their initials in a wax tablet, just as the Romans of Westgate may have done two thousand years ago.

A Roman wax writing tablet
The initials of all the the children at the Roman Day written in the wax of a Roman writing tablet

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