James Rogers was born at Moama, New South Wales, and was riding horses at the age of four. He enlisted in the 1st Victorian Mounted Rifles and arrived in South Africa in November 1899; six months later, he transferred to the South African Constabulary. The following year, during an ambush by about 60 Boers, near Thaba 'Nchu, Orange Free State, he rescued soldiers who had lost their horses on three separate occasions, each time while under heavy fire.

After a brief return to Australia in 1902, Rogers went back to the war as a lieutenant in the Australian Commonwealth Horse. He also served during the First World War, but was invalided home in 1916 because of serious wounds received on Gallipoli. After the war Rogers was a grazier in Victoria and later retired to Sydney. He died in Concord Repatriation Hospital in 1961.

Rogers received the Victoria Cross, the Queen's and the King's South Africa Medals, three medals for service in the First World War, and coronation medals for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.