Bernard was educated at Reigate Grammar School, at St.Andrew's, Caterham, and at Guy’s Hopsital - entering in 1892, he qualified M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. in 1897. He held hospital appointments at Burton-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, and Great Grimsby, and then after practicing for a short time at Capsl and Oakamoor, Staffordshire, he obtained a general practice at Compton Martin, Somerset, in 1902 - where he became medical officer and public vaccinator. Bernard gained his commission in the R.A.M.C. on 25th June 1915. He had been serving with the 51st Field Ambulance when he was posted as Regimental Medical Officer to the 8th Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment in relief of a medical officer who had to be sent to hospital ill. He was in this role a little more than a week when he was instantaneously killed by a German shell which landed and burst in the dug-out he was attending to wounded in. Colonel Julian advised in a letter he wrote to Bernard’s family that when Bernard was found he still had a dressing and pair of scissors in his hands. A medical friend, who had known him well for 20 years wrote “Few may have pierced his peculiar reserve, but to those who did there was a very different character beneath than that which was suggested on the surface. He was at his best with children in the open. A lover of wild things, he had the rare gift of opening the eyes of others to the beauty of the world around. But with adults he was peculiarly diffident, and one might have easily missed that kindliness, of which many a poor patient will tell to-day with tears, and that a sterling character of which his intimates had ever fresh revelations.” Bernard was the son of the late Henry Gough (Barrister-at-Law), of Red Hill, Surrey; and the husband of Annie Sophia Gough of East Harptree, Bristol ( who was in command of the Gournay Court V.A. Hospital at West Harptree, near Bristol.)