Bernard Wilfred Wright was born at 204 High Street, Watford on Tuesday, 24th September 1895 and baptised three months later, at St Mary’s Church in the town on Sunday, 15th December. He was the first of three children born to Robert William Wright and Isabel Sharp and his younger siblings were Hilda born in 1897 and Robert William born in 1900. His father Robert was a "Coach Builder" and this was the trade that brought the family from Watford to Leverstock Green near Hemel Hempstead around 1902. Robert moved his young family into "Leverstock House", next door the "Leather Bottle" pub which still stands in the village today, although the family home was demolished in the 1960’s. From a workshop next to the house, Bernard’s father built up a successful business as a "Wheelwright", as well as becoming an "Undertaker" and serving on the Parish council.

Bernard went to the local village school which he left in early 1907 when he went to Callowland Board School on Leavesden Road, North Watford. He remained there until July 1908 when, aged thirteen, he transferred to a Higher Elementary school, which was in fact Watford Grammar, to complete his education. Whilst still at school he joined the nascent Scouting movement and 'patrolled' with the Leverstock Green troop alongside fellow victims of the Great War, Fred Harrowell and Victor Perkins. When he finally left school Bernard joined Barclay’s Bank as a trainee and went to work at the Hitchin Branch.

On the outbreak of war, Bernard was still at Hitchin and working as a "Cashier", but a year later, he left his job and went to enlist, on the 13th November 1915 aged twenty. He joined the Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment and was initially posted to the 28th (Reserve) Battalion. The 28th was formed in August 1915 as a reserve battalion, from depot companies of the four Public Schools Battalions. Within a short space of time, Bernard was promoted Lance Corporal and by June 1916 he was raised to Corporal. He completed his basic training and in September he transferred to "F" Company, 104th Training Reserve Battalion, under the orders of the 24th Reserve Brigade.

He moved to Edinburgh with his new unit but, only two days after his transfer he fell ill with Tonsillitis and was admitted to the 2nd Scottish General Hospital in the city. He was treated for eleven days before being moved to Kelso, on the Scottish Borders where he underwent a further twenty-one days of care before finally being discharged. Shortly afterwards, he fell foul of the military authorities when he was "Absent Without Leave", having overstayed his leave by eighty hours. The resultant charge meant he forfeited four days pay and had any further leave "stopped" for one month.

In early November 1916, Bernard applied for an officer’s commission in the Machine Gun Corp. His application stated his his father was a "Coachbuilder", and that he had been a "Bank Clerk" and could ride a horse. He was accepted for admission to No. 2 Officer Cadet Battalion stationed at Pirbright on the 1st February 1917, where he completed his training before transferring in May, to No. 6 Cadet Battalion based in Oxford.  Bernard trained with the Tank Corps briefly, before being selected in August to train as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps. He reported to the Military Aeronautics school at Reading just before he was promoted 2nd Lieutenant and began the intensive course of training to become a pilot.

The training was compressed into six weeks and included aerial observation, wireless telegraphy, aneroid barometers, manufacture of engine parts and the use of Lewis guns amongst other skills. On leaving Reading, Bernard moved to 31 Training Squadron, at Wyton Huntingdonshire, then on to 62 Squadron at Swingate Downs, Dover in Kent to complete his training. By the 26th March, 1918 Bernard had qualified as a pilot and prepared to go to France. 

During his time at Swingate Downs, Bernard married nineteen-year-old Bessie (Elizabeth) Elford, at All Saints Church, Deptford, London on Saturday, 16th February 1918. It is not known where and when Bernard and Bessie met, but it may have been during his initial posting to the City of London Regiment shortly after he enlisted. Their time together after they married was sadly brief. On the 1st April Bernard was promoted Lieutenant, on the day the Royal Airforce came into being, and twelve days later he was posted. He joined No. 4 Squadron Australian Flying Corps on attachment, and went to join his unit at Bruay in France.

Just two weeks after his arrival, Bernard flew his first combat mission on the 1st May 1918, although his time in the air was hindered by low clouds and poor visibility. His second and third missions over the next two days suffered from even worse visibility, before he finally saw combat action on the 4th May. Taking off at 5.30p.m., he was in a small squadron undertaking a bombing patrol but, after only thirty minutes, Bernard and his comrades were engaged in a dogfight with seven German "Albatross" aircraft. Two German planes were shot down and destroyed but 4 Squadron A.F.C. recorded one casualty “Shot down in flames. Last seen at 6-05 p.m.” between Bailleul and Merville.

The unfortunate casualty was Bernard and he was immediately reported missing before being confirmed "Killed in Action" on Saturday, 4th May 1918. Bernard had spent only three hours and twenty five minutes in the air and of that, only thirty-five minutes in combat. This was a tragically short time even when compared to the average life expectancy of a R.F.C. pilot in the Great War, an appallingly brief eleven days.

Two weeks after he perished, Bernard’s death was reported in the Hemel Gazette.

Bernard was commemorated in the order of service at Holy Trinity Parish Church in Leverstock Green during Easter 1919 and his name engraved on the War Memorials in the village and at the local school. Five months after he died, Bessie gave birth to their only child whom she named Bernard Wilfred Wright in memory of her dead husband.

Bernard is Remembered with Honour in the Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, Nord, France, where he is interred in Grave IV. B. 1.

He was 22 years old when he died.

Bernard was eligible for the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.