Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Jean Brillant
In memory of:
Lieutenant Jean Brillant
August 10, 1918
Méharicourt, France
Military Service
28
Army
Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)
22nd Battalion
An extract from 'The London Gazette' No. 30922, dated September 27, 1918, records the following:
For most conspicuous bravery and outstanding devotion to duty when in charge of a company which he led in attack during two days with absolute fearlessness and extraordinary ability and initiative, the extent of the advance being twelve miles. On the first day of operations shortly after the attack had begun, his company's left flank was held up by an enemy machine gun. Lt. Brillant rushed and captured the machine-gun, personally killing two of the enemy crew. Whilst doing this, he was wounded but refused to leave his command. Later on the same day, his company was held up by heavy machine-gun fire. He reconnoitred the ground personally, organised a party of two platoons and rushed straight for the machine-gun nest. British War Medal, Victory Medal and George V Coronation Medal (1911).
Victoria Cross
Military Cross
Additional Information
March 15, 1890
Mission Assametquaghan, Quebec
January 11, 1916
Camp Valcartier, Quebec
Baptized Jean Baptiste Arthur Brillant. Son of Joseph Bois-Brillant and Rose de Lima Raiche of Causapscal, Matapédia, Québec. Brother of sailor Jules Brillant, who served in the Canadian Merchant Navy between the two world wars.
He previously served for 13 years in the 89th Regiment. He enlisted at Camp Valcartier with the 189th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. In England, on 6 October 1916, he was posted to the 69th Reserve Battalion. Transferred to the 22nd Battalion on 27 October, he arrived in France the same day. Loaned to the 2nd Canadian Entrenchment Battalion from 28 to 31 October 1916, he returned to his unit on 20 February 1917 after a course on Lewis machine guns and signals. Wounded in action for the first time on 28 May 1918, he was not evacuated, a second time on 8 August during a raid between Vrély and Méharicourt during the Battle of Amiens. He died of these wounds on the 10th.
Commemorated on Page 374 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Jean Brillant is a recipient of the Victoria Cross.
Complete list of Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients
Burial Information
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY
Somme, France
VIA.B.20
Villers-Bretonneux is a village 16 kilometres east of Amiens on the straight main road to St Quentin. The Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery is about 2 kilometres north of the village on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Digital Collection
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Newspaper clipping -
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Newspaper clipping – Le Progrès du Golfe - July 5th 1918. -
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Newspaper clipping – Le Progrès du Golfe - December 14th 1918. -
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Newspaper clipping – Le Progrès du Golfe - December 20th 1918. -
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Newspaper clipping – Le Soleil - July 1st 1918. -
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Honour roll – Memorial plaque in front of the United Kingdom High Commission in Ottawa to commemorate Canadians who have been awarded the Victoria Cross. -
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Biography – Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
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Newspaper clipping – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me. From the Annie Boyes collection courtesy of the Simcoe County Archives. http://www.simcoe.ca/dpt/arc -
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Attestation Paper (front) -
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Photographs -
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War Diary – Extract from 22nd Battalion War Diary for August 1918 -
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Photographs – John Brillant, V.C., M.C., Que. Regt -
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Biographical Information -
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Service Records (Front) -
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Service Records (back) -
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Service Records – Casualty Form - Active Service -
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Award Citation -
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Circumstances of Death Registers – Source: Library and Archives Canada. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: Brabant to Britton. Mircoform Sequence 13; Volume Number 131829_B016722; Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 157 Page 765 of 906 -
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Memorial – Lt. Jean Brillant V.C. memorial Royal 22e Regiment -
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Cenotaph – Barrie Military Park, Canadian Victory Cross Recipients, Cenotaph -
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Gravemarker -
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Grave Marker -
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Grave marker
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