Jean Baptiste Arthur Brillant (15 March 1890 – 10 August 1918) was a

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recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

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and

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forces.

Background

Brillant was born on 15 March 1890 in Assemetquagan, Routhierville, Quebec, the son of Joseph Brillant,Brillant, John
Commonwealth War Graves Commission a railway maintenance worker, and Rose-de-Lima Raiche. Brillant studied at the College of Saint Joseph in Memramcook, New Brunswick, and then at the Séminaire de Rimouski in 1904–1905. He later worked as a telegraph operator for a railway.Brillant, Jean
''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''

World War I

Brillant volunteered for service with the 89th (Temiscouata and Rimouski) Regiment (from 1920 the Fusiliers du S^t-Laurent) and held the rank of

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. In 1916, eager to join the

Canadian Expeditionary Force The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF; French: ''Corps expéditionnaire canadien'') was the expeditionary warfare, expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed on August 15, 1914, following United Kingdom declarat ...

, he declared 13 years' service with this unit. On 20 March 1916 Brillant left his job as a telegrapher. After about six months’ training in Valcartier, he embarked for England with the 189th on 27 September 1916; on disembarking at Liverpool on 6 October, he was assigned to the 69th Infantry Battalion. He left for France on 27 October and joined the 22e Battalion (Canadien Francais) at Bully-Grenay. During the night of 27/28 May 1918, in the vicinity of Boiry-Becquerelle, Brillant was called to lead a group of volunteers to help silence an outpost defended by about 50 men. Troops charged the enemy position, cut through the barbed wire protecting it, and took it. He was injured in the attack, yet captured enemy soldiers who had "valuable information". Remaining in action that day despite his wounds, Brillant would be awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...

on 16 September 1918. He was awarded the VC for his actions on 8/9 August east of Meharicourt, France the first and second days of the Battle of Amiens. He died the next day on 10 August 1918.

VC citation

Grave

Brillant is buried at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, France located 15 km (9 miles) east of

Amiens Amiens (English: or ; ; , or ) is a city and Communes of France, commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme (department), Somme Departments of France, department in the region ...

. (Plot VIa, Row B, Grave 20). His gravestone bears the inscription:

''FILS DE JOSEPH BRILLANT'' ''ENROLE VOLONTAIREMENT A RIMOUSKI, PROVINCE DE QUEBEC'' ''TOMBE GLORIEUSEMENT SUR LE SOL DE SES AIEUX'' ''BON SANG NE PEUT MENTIR''

which (roughly) translates to:

''SON OF JOSEPH BRILLANT'' ''VOLUNTARILY ENLISTED IN RIMOUSKI, PROVINCE OF QUEBEC'' ''FELL GLORIOUSLY ON THE SOIL OF HIS FOREFATHERS'' ''GOOD BLOOD DOES NOT LIE'' (a French expression meaning that he bore the positive traits of his ancestors)

His medals are held at the Royal 22^e Regiment Museum in Quebec City. A monument to Jean Brillant was erected in 1970 in

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, located in the park which also bears his name.

References

External links