Last battle on British soil facts for kids
There are many different ideas about what counts as the last battle on British or English soil. It really depends on how you define a "battle" and what kind of event you're talking about. Was it a big fight, a small clash, or even an invasion?
Here's a list of events that people often say were the last battle in Britain or England:
Contents
Last Battles on English Soil
Battle of Sedgemoor (1685)
The Battle of Sedgemoor happened in Somerset, England, on July 6, 1685. This was the final battle of the Monmouth Rebellion. This rebellion was a fight where people tried to remove King James II from the throne. Many people say Sedgemoor was the very last battle fought on English soil. A local museum even says it was the last "major battle" in England where Englishmen fought against other Englishmen.
Battle of Preston (1715)
The Battle of Preston took place in Lancashire, England, from November 9 to 14, 1715. This battle was part of the Jacobite Rising of 1715. The Jacobites were supporters of the Stuart royal family, who wanted to put their king back on the throne. Some people believe this was the last big battle on English soil. However, others think it was more like a "siege," which is when an army surrounds a place to try and capture it.
Clifton Moor Skirmish (1745)
The Clifton Moor Skirmish happened in Westmorland (now Cumbria), England, on December 18, 1745. It's also sometimes called "The Battle of Clifton Moor." This was the last fight in England during the Jacobite rising of 1745. It was also the last time English and Scottish armies fought each other on English land. But people still argue if it was a full "battle" or just a "skirmish," which is a small, short fight.
Last Battles on British Soil
Battle of Culloden (1746)
The Battle of Culloden took place in Scotland on April 16, 1746. This was the final big fight of the Jacobite rising of 1745. It was the last large "pitched battle" fought on British soil. A pitched battle means a battle where both armies choose the time and place to fight. Many sources say it was the last battle of any kind fought in Great Britain.
Battle of Fishguard (1797)
The Battle of Fishguard happened in Wales from February 22 to 24, 1797. This event involved a "hostile foreign force," which means an enemy army, landing on British soil on purpose. Because of this, it's often called the "last invasion of Britain."
Battle of Bossenden Wood (1838)
The Battle of Bossenden Wood took place in Kent, England, on May 31, 1838. Some people call it a "battle," while others refer to it as an "armed rising." This fight was between a small group of local workers and some soldiers. The soldiers were sent from Canterbury to arrest the workers' leader.
Battle of Graveney Marsh (1940)
The Battle of Graveney Marsh happened in Kent, England, on September 27, 1940. This was the last "ground engagement" involving a foreign force on the mainland of Great Britain. A ground engagement means a fight that happens on land. It was a short encounter between the crew of a German aircraft that had crashed and British soldiers who were training nearby.
See also
- Battle of Britain - a famous air battle over the south east of the United Kingdom during World War II.
