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. See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since The Military Cross ( MC) is the third level Military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993 other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to Events 44 BC - Julius Caesar, Dictator of the Roman Republic, is stabbed to death by Marcus Junius Brutus, Year 1890 ( MDCCCXC) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located
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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. Lieutenant (abbreviated Lt or Lieut) is a Military, Naval, Paramilitary, Fire service, Emergency medical services The Royal 22e Régiment is an Infantry Regiment and the most famous Francophone organization of the Canadian Forces. The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the group of Canadian military units formed for service overseas in the First World War. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All
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. Méharicourt is a commune in the Somme département in the Picardie region of France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. A company is a Military unit, typically consisting of 75-200 Soldiers Most companies are formed of three to five Platoons although the exact number may vary 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. A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or Squads and containing about 30 to 50 soldiers 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. A field gun is an Artillery piece Originally the term referred to smaller Guns that could accompany a field army on the march and when in combat could be He died the next day.
Further information
Brillant is buried at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, France. 15km (9 miles) east of Amiens. Amiens (amjɛ̃ is a city and commune in northern France, 120 km north of Paris. 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
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