Between 2014 and 2018 Australia, like many other nations, is commemorating the centenary of the First World War. This article explores the difficulties that many academics have in traversing the divide between academic and popular history, and suggests why the public reaction to academic military history is often so hostile. It points to the role of national ideals that are underpinned by the Anzac mythology surrounding egalitarianism, mateship and martial courage, and to the role performed by conservative commentators. However, the article also argues that the popularity of military history in Australia, and growing signs of openness to challenging interpretations from some organisations, present opportunities for academic and professional historians, who in turn must rise to the challenge as part of their responsibilities as public intellectuals.