His commanding officer wrote of Bernard: 

'A braver, cooler more reliable young officer could not be found. he had done wonderfully gallant work on patrol on numerous occasions and whatever job he had to do I could abundantly rely on his doing thoroughly. I know of no other officer in the battalion I could have spared less than he. He was as brave as a lion.We were counterattacking at 1.30 am on the 24th, and I turned out all the men at headquarters. He, without any orders, dashed off with the leading men right up to the front where danger threatened.  . . . I don't know how I shall replace him, as not only was ha valuable as an officer, but I was very foed of him, as were all of us." 

Teesdale Mercury-05/09/1917: News item: Barnard Castle Bank Clerk Killed

Bernard was educated at Yorebridge Grammar School and Giggleswick School. Before the war he worked in the Barnard Castle Branch of Barclay's Bank and joined the Royal Fusiliers UPS in December 1914.

He served on Front with them as a private until April 1915 and was gazetted on 9th August 1916 as Second Lieutenant.