Other Information:Bernard enlisted into the Army on 1st September 1896 with the Medical Staff Corps,
with his former occupation on his attestation papers given as a barman. Previous service is also noted with the Royal West Surrey Regiment and a discharge by purchase, although no dates are given. In 1898, he serviced with the R.A.M.C. in Sudan with the Nile Expeditionary Force and then from 1899 - 1902, served in South Africa. He entered the Great war in France on 20th August 1914 with 14th Field Ambulance but on the 25th was captured by Germans at the Battle of Le Cateau and taken as a prisoner of war. He returned from captivity on 29th June 1915 and joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the 26th July. Bernard was mentioned by Lt/General The Hon. J.C. Smuts in his dispatch from East Africa on 27 October 1916: "For meritorious service in the Field". He was promoted to acting Staff Sergeant on 24th August 1917, with a further promotion to acting Warrant Officer 1 following on 12th March 1918. On 13th March 1918 (London Gazette) he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal "In recognition of valuable service rendered with the Army in the Field during the present war" for his service in East Africa. He relinquished his acting rank and reverted back to Sergeant on 18th September 1918 and was demobilized on 31st March 1920. Bernard was pensioned from the Army as a Sergeant after almost 24 years service. [Information researched and kindly provided by Michael W Cook]
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