Jean Brillant

Jean Baptiste Arthur Brillant (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.

Background Brillant was born on 15 March 1890 in Assemetquagan, Routhierville, Quebec, the son of Joseph Brillant, 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.

World War I Brillant volunteered for service with the 89th (Temiscouata and Rimouski) Regiment (from 1920 the Fusiliers du St-Laurent) and held the rank of lieutenant. In 1916, eager to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 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.

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

His medals are held at the Royal 22e Regiment Museum in Quebec City.

A monument to Jean Brillant was erected in 1970 in Montreal, located in the park which also bears his name.