Bruce White, as he was always known, was born at Windsor, NSW. It is stated in his obituary notice that he was `a son of the manse'. He was educated at Fort Street High School and proceeded to Sydney University, where he graduated MB ChM in 1920 with second-class honours. After a period of residency at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, he went overseas, obtaining the MRCP (London) in 1923. In 1940 he obtained the MRACP and in 1946 was elected a Fellow of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Like many physicians of that era, he entered into his specialty via general practice. On his return from England in 1924 he began general practice in the Sydney suburb of Ryde. In 1934, he joined the staff of the Anti-Tuberculosis Association and remained an honorary physician there until 1948.

He had obviously decided to specialise in chest diseases which, at that time, meant mainly pulmonary tuberculosis, for in 1934 he also joined the staff of the department of pulmonary diseases at the Royal North Shore Hospital of Sydney. He started as a clinical assistant, and eventually rose to be the senior physician to the thoracic unit, as it was by then called. He was appointed a consultant physician on his retirement in June 1957.

He held a number of other appointments in the field of respiratory medicine. He was an honorary physician at the pulmonary clinic, Manly District Hospital, Sydney; consultant physician, tuberculosis division, Department of Public Health, NSW, and physician to the pulmonary unit, Parramatta District Hospital. He was also a lecturer in preventive medicine, University of Sydney. When the National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis was formed in 1948, he became very active in the NSW branch of this association, especially on the side of education and propaganda. He made great contributions to the success of the Asian-Pacific Tuberculosis Conference held in Sydney in 1955. During the Second World War he was a major, AAMC Reserve, and was officer-in-charge, chest board work, Victoria Barracks 1940-45. It is alleged that his eyesight was impaired from examining thousands of miniature chest x-ray films of the armed forces.

In 1928 he married Dr Amy Clark, whom he had met soon after her graduation, on his return from England. Their marriage was a supremely happy one, as they shared common interests to the full, and she was always at his side as a helpmate.

For many years Bruce was one of Sydney's eminent chest physicians, having a profound and extensive knowledge in the field of tuberculosis. He was a kindly, considerate and courteous man, and this came through, not only with his colleagues, but also with his patients. The latter were most appreciative of his interest in them. This was demonstrated by the large number of his patients who attended his funeral service. Despite his gentle nature, when it came to a matter of principle, Bruce never hesitated to take a firm stand, even though this might be to his own detriment.