Bruce Cormack

Interviewed by Eve Klein on 4 December 2000
Subject: Second World War

Eve Klein. From your point of view, do you recall any deprivation at all, during that time?

Bruce Cormack. No, absolutely none. It was a great time to be in Mosman, to be at school. I remember continually battling with my mother who would force me to wear old tan sandshoes to school when I knew a lot of kids there were privileged enough to go to school in bare feet, but I was never allowed to.

Eve Klein. Why did they go to school in bare feet?

Bruce Cormack. Times were tough. Mosman was far from being the overall affluent place that it is today. It was quite different. There were workers in the small workers’ cottages.

Eve Klein. Do you remember rationing?

Bruce Cormack. Oh, very much. I can remember being absolutely delighted when my brother was born towards the end of the war, because I knew very well that this meant more butter and more sugar and a couple of eggs. He was born at 6am in Mosman, and at 9am my mother was giving me the shopping instructions and first on the list was to go and sign up for the new ration coupons. Yes, I remember rationing very well.