S/Ldr Rose was born in Elswick, Newcastle-Uopn-Tyne.
He later moved south and joined the RAFVR in Southampton in 1939.
Stuart had logged 87 hours of flying before he was called up at the outbreak of war. After training he was commissioned and posted to 602 Squadron on 18th June, 1940.

Stuart flew with 602 Squadron throughout the Battle of Britain. He claimed a BF110 on 25th August, and shared another on 7th September. On 9th September, he was injured and did not fly again until 7th Ocober.  He claimed another BF109 on 29th October.

In September, 1941, Stuart was posted to 54 Squadron then based at RAF Hornchurch.
He then was posted to 57 OTU as an instructor and later to CFS at Hullavington.
He returned to 57 OTU in February, 1943.
Stuart was posted to Sutton Bridge on 2nd June for a gunnery instructor's course and returned to 57 OTU on 1st July.

Stuart was posted to15 APC in January, 1944, moving to 14 APC at Ayr.
He was posted to the Middle East in July, 1944, and returned to the UK in May, 1945, for a gunnery instructors course.
He then went back to El Ballah in July, but finally returned to the UK in December, and was relased from the RAF in February, 1946.