Né le 9 janvier 1902 à Aigle (Canton de Vaud), au sein d'une famille de la bourgeoisie paysanne, Henri-Vincent Gillard a effectué ses études à Vevey. Son père, herboriste, décédé en 1914, lui transmit très tôt la passion de la montagne, notamment lors des cueillettes de plantes médicinales.

Henri-Vincent Gillard was born into a well established farming family in Aigle, in the Swiss canton of Vaud, on January 9, 1902. His father, who died in 1914, was a herbalist who communicated his passion for the mountains to his young son, in particular during medicinal plant picking expeditions.

Une mère énergique assuma seule l'éducation du jeune Henri-Vincent, de sa soeur Lydie et de son frère aîné Ernest, à la mort de leur père. Elève doué mais pas particulièrement zélé, Henri-Vincent consacrait son temps libre à une intense activité sportive et artistique. Très tôt, il développa ainsi une double passion pour le dessin et le violon. Ses professeurs décelant chez lui un talent certain, une carrière de violoniste semblait poindre à l'horizon. Sa mère en décida cependant autrement.

After his father's death, his energetic mother was alone in bringing up the young Henri-Vincent, his sister Lydie and his older brother Ernest. Henri-Vincent went to school in Vevey, and was a gifted but not particularly zealous student. He devoted most of his free time to sport and artistic activities. He soon developed a passion both for playing the violin and drawing. His teachers having acknowledged his talent, a career as a concert violinist was looming on the horizon. His mother, however, decided otherwise.