Bro. Cassian Brigant - Down the Memory Lane – Lasallians Remembered

Brother Cassian Brigant was born at Botsorkel, Finistre, Brittany, France in 1889. He received his early education at the famous Likes College of the Brothers at Quimper. In 1900, he entered the Junior Novitiate of the Brothers at the Nantes and completed his senior Novitiate and Scholasticate at Vauxbelets Quernesey by 1907. Brother Cassian then came East and served a short period of Scholasticate at Bandarawalla Colombo. Afterwards, he was sent to Singapore where he started to teach in 1908. In 1914, he was called to serve his country in World War I. He fought with the Infantry at Salonika, Sophia, Verdun and was wounded at Vaux. He received two citations for exceptional zeal and bravery in saving many wounded in the battlefield during intensive bombardment. His country decorated him with the Croix de Guerre avec etoile de bronze et etoile d’argent and the Medaille Militaire. The Government of Bulgaria offered Brother Cassian a ministerial post but at the end of the war he chose to resume his teaching in Singapore. Brother Cassian was very active outside the Dome. He founded the Teacher Association and served as president for three years. He took great interest in music and was a co-founder of the Hong Kong School Musical Association. Brother Cassian also played an active role in the development of scouting in Hong Kong. In recognition of his service to Hong Kong, Lord Rowallan decorated him with the Silver Acorn in 1954. Among many other decorations, the most notable ones are the Insignia of Officier D’Academie and the Legion d’Honneur by the French Government and the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the British Government.