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Jean Brillant, VC, MC (15 March 1890 – 10 August 1918) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Born in Assemetquagan (Routhierville), Quebec, the son of Joseph Brillant, a railway maintenance worker, and Rose-de-Lima Raiche, Jean Brillant was a telegraph operator before the war.

He was 28 years old, and a lieutenant in the 22e Battalion (Canadien Francais), Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

Action

On 8/9 August 1918 east of Meharicourt, France, Lieutenant Brillant, while capturing a machine-gun which was holding up his company, was wounded but refused to leave his command. Later his company was again held by heavy machine-gun fire and Lieutenant Brillant, with two platoons, rushed the machine-gun post, capturing 150 prisoners and 15 guns. He was wounded a second time, had his wounds dressed immediately and again refused to leave his command. Subsequently he led a "rushing" party towards a field gun and was again seriously wounded, but continued to advance until he fell unconscious. He died the next day.

Further information

Brillant is buried at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, France. 15km (9 miles) east of Amiens. Plot VIa. Row B. Grave 20. Headstone.

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External links

• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
• In memory of Lieutenant JEAN BRILLANT (service details, photographs, citation, relevant documents, burial information)
• Legion Magazine

• Canadian World War I Victoria Cross recipients
• 1880 births
• 1918 deaths