Stewart Rose was born in 1919. Recalls people talking about the flu epidemic of 1918. Mentions how his father was pushed into the job of funeral director. Gives details of his parent's origins and marriage at Owaka in 1917. Recalls being unwell as a child and his mother not being able to afford to take him to the doctor during the Depression. Describes living in Mataura opposite the freezing works and also living in Roxburgh and Pounawea. Recalls the Proficiency exam in Standard 6 at school. Describes working on the farm of Dr Rodgers at Mokoreta making and repairing sheds. Talks about the outbreak of World War II, being in the 1st Southland's in a camp at Forbury, Dunedin, sleeping under the grandstand at the Forbury Trotting Park and being in the same platoon as Arthur Morton. Describes being stood down for a year as the result of an injury and then leaving on the Aquatainia (Aquitania) for the Desert War in Egypt. Recalls `going to the line' for the first time, the death of Bill Wallis and being taught the sound made by mortars by Andy Crawford. Talks about being sent back to Egypt form Italy with a bad knee. Comments on the effect of the Depression on the business of his father, who was a builder as well as funeral director, and laid employees off. Notes that the family still took in destitute people despite this. Recalls working at H and J Smith and leaving there to work for his father. Describes coffin making, the Scottish custom of laying out a body and going to Hamilton to learn funeral directing and embalming from Mr Scrimshaw. Describes building up the funeral business, the deterioration of his health and being bought out by the opposition funeral director. Recalls carrying out the bulk of funerals in Tapanui and Crookston. Mentions his wife Joyce is the first woman in New Zealand to hold an embalmer's certificate. Describes trips to the Dunedin Crematorium. Recalls conducting his father's funeral. Mentions involvement in the Crippled Children's Society and Masonic Lodge.