Arthur James Rouget was born at Wandin Yallock, a rural district on the outskirts of Melbourne, in 1889 to Thomas and Janet (nee Hogg). Arthur was raised at the family home Fern Dale, and by his early teens was working as a labourer clearing scrub for farmers and fruit growers in the district. In 1903 the local newspaper reported he suffered a serious injury to his right hand while wielding an axe in the course of this work, and his service record reveals he subsequently lost a finger joint as a result of this accident.

Arthur enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force on 7 January 1915. After almost four months in camp at Broadmeadows, he was attached to the newly-formed 13th Light Horse Regiment. With little training undertaken as a unit, the regiment paraded through the streets of Melbourne to the port before boarding HMAT Persic on 28 May 1915. The regiment disembarked at Port Suez on 29 June and entrained to Abbassia on the outskirts of Cairo. It was here that Arthur commenced his overseas training, which he continued at nearby No. 2 Oasis Camp.

After urgent requests for additional troops to relieve the exhausted Australian forces at Gallipoli, the 13th Light Horse Regiment was called upon as reinforcements. The mounted troops hastily transitioned to training as foot soldiers and proceeded to the Peninsula in early September 1915. Thus, Arthur and fellow members of the 13th Light Horse Regiment found themselves operating as infantry during the latter stages of the Gallipoli campaign, albeit primarily in a supporting role tasked with defensive duties around Lone Pine.

After returning to Egypt in early January 1916, the 13th Light Horse Regiment was broken up and redeployed as cavalry squadrons for the 2nd, 4th and 5th Australian Divisions in response to the reorganisation of the Australian Imperial Force. As a result, Arthur proceeded to France with the 4th Division in June 1916. A month later he was taken on strength with the 1st Anzac Light Horse Regiment. He remained with the regiment for the vast majority of his active service in France and Belgium, generally tasked with delivering despatches, carrying out traffic control and conducting reconnaissance.

In mid-December 1918 Arthur was transferred to the Australian Veterinary Hospital and remained with the unit for the duration of his service. He departed France on 21 February 1919, and spent two months in England before embarking from Devonport on 19 April. Arthur disembarked at Port Melbourne on 8 June and was greeted by a large crowd welcoming the arrival of troops from four transports. He was discharged on 7 August 1919.

Arthur returned to Wandin and married Miss Elsie May Gaudion at the local Methodist Church on 6 November 1920. The couple remained in the district and raised a family of four children. In his latter years Arthur was increasingly ailed by a leg injury that eventually required amputation. He died on 4 July 1940 at the Price Alfred Hospital in Melbourne from resulting complications. The local newspaper prepared an obituary for Arthur, observing "He was universally respected for his integrity and generosity, while his prevailing courtesy and genial disposition gained friendships among all sections of the community."