Rose joined the RAFVR at Southampton in December 1938. He began his flying training at Hamble and had logged 87 flying hours before being called up at the outbreak of war.
With training completed on 17 June 1940, he was commissioned on the 18th and he joined No 602 Squadron flying Spitfires from Drem on the 20th.
“Rosebud”, as he was known on the squadron, claimed a Bf 110 destroyed on 25 August and on 7 September he shared a Bf 110. He was wounded on the 11th and was non-effective sick until 6 October.
He probably destroyed a Bf 109 on the 29th and on 6 November he shared in damaging a Ju 88.
Promoted to Flying Officer in June 1941, Rose was posted to No 54 Squadron in September. He became an instructor and later served in the Middle East. He was released from the RAF in February 1946, as a Squadron Leader.
Nigel Rose died in 2017.
