Having been tracked all the way along the coast by the British cavalry and chariots, the landing was opposed. To make matters worse, the loaded Roman ships were too low in the water to go close inshore and the troops had to disembark in deep water, all the while attacked by the enemy from the shallows. The troops were reluctant, but according to Caesar's account were led by the "aquilifer" (standard-bearer, whose name is not provided by Caesar) of the 10th legion who jumped in first as an example, shouting: