Bernard was born in Exmouth, Devon and his mother Eliza Anne and father Edwin John lived in Eversley, Exeter; he had one sister Barbara. He had been a Congregationalist, but became an attender at the Westminster Prayer Meeting and was a member of the Society of Friends when he joined the Friends Ambulance Unit in January 1916.

His case was heard before the Lewisham Military Service Tribunal in March 1916 by which stage he was in France with the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU). The tribunal granted him exemption as long as he remained with the unit. There is a note on his FAU personnel card that he was later granted absolute exemption by the war office (14.3.1917 Cert no.296).

His contract with the FAU dates from 7 January 1916, on joining his qualifications are shown as having driven a motor cycle for six years and speaking a little French. He arrived in France on 3 March 1916 and worked as a driver until 25 May 1918 when he commenced work as an orderly, work he did from then until he left France on 19 January 1919. He was also a member of the British Red Cross and Order of St John of Jerusalem.
He died in central Devon in March 1972.

Source 007