There is Danger in Losing Our Veterans, Historian Says While they’ll never be forgotten, Australia’s dwindling population of WWII veterans hints at an impending loss of so-called “living memory.” For war historian Robin Prior that’s a menacing prospect, which invites the rise of extremism and denialism. As Anzac Day approaches, he notes that it has been the first-hand accounts of going to war by older veterans which have been their most important contribution to the annual commemoration. “It’s those direct, speaking-to-camera opportunities which are disappearing; telling us that they fought for democracy, that they fought to maintain our way of life,” Prior told AAP.