The Memorial holds over 270 interviews with WW1 veterans. Some were conducted by professional interviewers, some as research for academic and published work; a few were recorded as oral memoirs by the veterans themselves. In 2008, the 90th Anniversary of the end of World War One, these recollections - of soldiers, airforce and navy personnel, generals and regular rank and file - serve as a valuable record of Australia’s military history.

More than that, these records are a window into a bygone age; the spoken words of people born in the 19th century. They are the personal recollection of Australia’s first appearance as a nation on war’s international stage. There’s humour and pathos, horror, survival – even boredom.

These recordings often represent a catharsis for veterans whom, until recorded, had shared their memories with no one. This may in turn have a bearing on the oral history collection and its relevance to those that use it. Might the passing of years affected the content and quality of these interviews; did the popular view of Australian diggers affect their recollections? Who are the real people behind the ANZAC legend? Who in fact was the “Aussie Digger”?