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Arthur James McKenzie Fargie was born at Ararat in 1884, the son of John Fargie and Louisa nee Simpson. He was educated at Geelong College and The University of Melbourne, where he graduated MB BS.

He enlisted in the AIF on 1 June 1916, as a Captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps and embarked on HMAT A33 Ayrshire on 3 July 1916. He served in France and Belgium, firstly at No 11 Australian Stationary Hospital, Rouen. He was recomeded the Military Cross, 29 October 1917, the citation read:
'Whilst in charge of a Bearer Subdivision in the Zonnebeke Area, east of Ypres on 22nd October 1917, whilst the enemy consistently shelled the wagon loading post on the Ypres-Zonnebeke Road, Captain Fargie took up a position without any protection in the centre of this dangerous region and attended to all casualties en route from the front line and personally dressed the very many local casualties which occurred amongst the batteries and working parties in the vicinity. Captain Fargie’s devotion to duty during exceedingly heavy shell fire, evidently attracted by the batteries surrounding his post, was a great stimulus to his personnel and much facilitated the despatch of casualties. He again performed similar excellent work at the same place during the whole of the 23rd October 1917.'

He was evacuated sick on 9 November 1917, and later was on duty at Hurdcott and Sutton Veny until the Armistice, being Mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatches, gazetted on 28 May 1918. He was demobilised on 14 July 1919.

Dr Arthur Fargie died at Epworth Hospital, Richmond, Victoria on 20 January 1939.

Sources: Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. pp.188-9 (citing The University of Melbourne: Record of Active Service of Teachers, Graduates, Undergraduates, Officers and Servants (1926); Australian War Memorial; Pegasus; National Archives of Australia)

The death occurred at a private hospital yesterday of Dr. A. J. McK. Fargie of Hennessy avenue, St Kilda. He was aged 54 years. Dr. Fargie was born in Ararat, and studied medicine at the University of  Melbourne. He saw active service during the Great War. He practised in Boort for many years before moving to Blackburn about six years ago. For the last 12 months he has been living in temporary  retirement in St. Kilda while he studied radiology. He is survived by a widow, a son and two daughters.
The funeral will leave A. W. Padbury's chapel, at the corner of White Horse road and Station street, Box Hill, at 11 a.m. today, for the Box Hill Cemetery. The service will be conducted by the Rev. William Evans.

The funeral of Dr. A. J. McK. Fargie, of Hennessey-avenue, St. Kllda, took place on Saturday, at the Box Hill cemetery. The pall bearers were Drs. Sutton and Eric Fargie, Messrs, Lorne-Smlth, E. Burbury, J. Simpson and J. Otley. Dr. Fargie was 54 years of age, and was born In Ararat. He first practised at Boort, and later at Blackburn. He was in temporary retirement for twelve months, while he was studying radiology. He served in the Great War. A widow, a son and two daughters survive. The funeral arrangements were carried out by A. W. Padbury, Box Hill.