Bernard was born in Belper, Derbyshire on 18th March 1916.  He married Gladys wain in 1935.  He was working as a bricklayers labourer in 1939 before joining the 14th Battalion on 15.3.1940. 

He fought with them in North Africa at the Battle of El Alamein and then moved with the Battalion to Italy where he fought with them in the Anzio Beach Head.  He was wounded by shrapnel in the buttocks and right knee during the break out on 8th May 1944.  He was taken Prisoner of War by the Germans with prisoner number 138384.   He was held in various camps, the last known being Stalag 344 at Lambsdorf.  He was repatriated in 1945.