Tilanus - historisch manuscript (epos) van een Nederlandse militair Tilanus tijdens de Eerste Wereldoorlog - 1914

An extremely rare, fully handwritten and rhyming historical manuscript (epic) by a Dutch soldier, Tilanus, from the First World War. The document is beautifully legible, numbered, and spans no fewer than 21 double pages. This unique ego-document begins exactly on the historical tipping point date of 31 July 1914 (the day of General Mobilization) in The Hague and runs chronologically through deep into 1916. The soldier describes in a flowing, poetical rhyming style his journey and experiences along the strategic Dutch border posts in North Brabant. It contains detailed reports of billeting and movements through, among others, The Hague, Arnhem, Tilburg, Hilvarenbeek, Esbeek, Alphen, Ulicoten, Strijbeek, Breda, Oosterhout, Udenhout, ’s-Hertogenbosch and Aarle-Rixtel. Unique military facts such as a detailed description of trench construction at the border according to the then-new