Bernard David Tracy was born in Islington, Middlesex [now London] on 31 March 1882. He was articled to Henry Thomas Gordon (1845?-1922) and Josiah Gunton (1861-1930) of Gordon & Gunton from 1898 to 1901 and remained with them as their assistant until 1903. He also attended Regent Street Polytechnic in 1897 and the Architectural Association Schools in London. In 1903-04 he worked as an assistant to John Henry Townsend Woodd and Wilfred Ainslie of Wood & Ainslie.
Tracy set up his own independent architectural practice in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire in 1904. In 1905-06 he worked as an architectural assistant to Ealing Borough Council. In 1907 he fully qualified as an architect and later that year was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA).
Tracy evidently served with distinction during World War One as he was awarded the Military Cross (MC). His address was given as Caledonia, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire in 1907 and 1914; Limoilou, Croxley Green, Hertfordshire in 1923; the Engineer's Office, Guildhall, London in 1926 and 1939; and 12 Southville Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey in 1966. He died in Kingston, Surrey on 6 November 1966
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001