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NEWS IN BRIEF...The accidental death has occurred at a Pacific port of Samuel J. Rouget, official number 1367, of the Royal Australian Navy. He apparently fell off the pier whilst waiting for a boat, only his cap having been found. He was a very steady man and exceedingly well liked, and appears to have had no worries. It is thought likely that he was suffering from a type of malaria, of which some cases have recently been reported, and apparently slipped on a pier which is used for copra and was slippery, especially as it was a rainy night. His body has been dragged for without success, but sharks are numerous in the locality. The Age, 15 January 1918. (nla.gov.au) (nla.gov.au)

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 17th December…… Samuel James Rouget was born on 1st July, 1891 at Wandin Yallock, Victoria. He joined Royal Australian Navy on 11th December, 1911 for a period of 7 years.

Ordinary Seaman Samuel James Rouget was posted to Naval Depot at Williamstown, Victoria from 11th December, 1911. He was transferred to “Warrigo” on 1st July, 1912 then on to “Cerberus” from 1st February, 1913.

He was transferred to “Melbourne” on 23rd April, 1913 & promoted to Able Seaman on 28th May, 1914.

On 4th June, 1914 Able Seaman Rouget was transferred to “Cerberus” on 4th June, 1914 then “Protector” on 28th August, 1914 & then “Fantome” on 27th November, 1914.

The 1914 & 1919 Australian Electoral Rolls for the division of Melbourne Ports, subdivision of Williamstown, Victoria recorded Samuel James Rouget, Seaman, of H.M.A.S. “Melbourne” from Williamstown.

Able Seaman Samuel James Rouget was transferred to “Una” on 12th February, 1915; “Cerberus” from 18th June, 1915; “Una” from 10th May, 1916; “Penguin” from 17th January, 1917 & back to “Fantome” from 27th October, 1917.

HMAS Fantome
In November 1917 Fantome was sent to the western Pacific and for the remainder of the war and until December 1918 assumed the police duties in the islands undertaken in pre war days by Royal Navy ships of the China or Pacific Stations. For most of the period she was based at Suva.
(Information from Wikipedia & Navy.gov.au)

Able Seaman Samuel James Rouget died on 17th December, 1917 when he accidentally drowned at Suva, Fiji, Pacific Islands.

He is named on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon, England – Panel 23 (along with 80 other WW1 Australians or connected to Australia). He has no grave, however his death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Newspaper item – The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria – 14 January, 1918:
Naval Man’s Accidental Death
The accidental death has occurred at a Pacific port of Samuel J. Rouget, official number 1367, of the Royal Australian Navy. He apparently fell off the pier whilst waiting for a boat, only his cap being found. He was a very steady man and exceedingly well liked, and appears to have had no worries. It is thought likely that he was suffering from a type of malaria, of which some cases have recently been reported, and apparently slipped on a pier which is used for copra and is very slippery, especially as it was a rainy night. His body has been dragged for, without success, but sharks are numerous in the locality.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/l---r.html