The son of industrialists, Gabriel Brunet de Sairigne was born on February 9, 1913, in Paris. He studied at Pasteur College and Sain-Louis. He entered the Saint-Cyr Military Academy in 1933, receiving his commission and a posting the the 29th Chasseurs Foot Battalion. Upon his request, he transferred to the legion in 1939. He was a lieutenant when the 13th formed in February of 1940, and served with the unit in Norway. choosing to remain in England with the Free French forces after the fall of France. He served with the 13th in the late campaigns of 1940 and 1941, with a promotion to captain in Syria, 1941, and given command of the 2nd Company of the 2nd Battalion.

At Bir Hakeim in 1942 he was credited for valor in directing anti-tank guns to repell the attack of the Italian Ariete Division. He was given command of the 2nd Anti-Tank Company of the 2nd Battalion, and served in this role at the Second Battel fo El Alamein, in October 23-24, 1942. Following the shake up after the death of Lt. Col. Amilkhvari, Brunet de Sairigne is made commander of the 1st Battalion, which remains his post through the landing in Southern France in the Fall of 1944. By war's end he is serving as the chief of staff of the 1st Free French Division, as a lieutenant colonel. In 1946, he leaves with the unit to Indochina, where he later takes command of the 13th DBLE on August 21, 1946. He directs operations in the Hoc My sector, and the adjacent regions. He is killed in combat on March 1, 1948 during a road ambush on the way to the military installation at Dalat. He was buried in Moutiers les Mauxfaits, Vendee.

Gabriel Brunet de Sairigne received the following awards/decorations:

• Commandeur de la Legion d'Honneur • Compagnon de la Liberation - decret du 9 septembre 1942 • Croix de Guerre 39/45 (7 citations) • Croix de Guerre des TOE (4 citations)