Bernard was born on 23 August 1916 in Lambeth, London to Louis (Leizor) and Jessie nee Barnett and he had two younger siblings Sylvia and Sidney. Their father Louis was born in Poland and worked as a hairdresser and tobacconist. He served in WW1 in the Army as a private in 1002 Russian Labour Company and at the outbreak of WW2 he volunteered as an ARP Warden. Bernard worked as a master hairdresser in the family shop before enlisting into the Army.

Tragically, Bernard took his own life and his death certificate states that he died from coal gas poisoning while of unsound mind.