In this special bonus edition of 14 Decades of Stories, we bring you an original Ascham audio drama.
This 11-minute drama brings to life the 1915 letters of Ascham Old Girl Ursula Carter. Ursula worked as a nurse in military hospitals in Egypt during World War I, nursing wounded Australian and allied soldiers. She wrote a series of letters back home to her parents and friends, shortly before and after the Gallipoli campaign. The timing of these letters was made all the more poignant given the scale of the tragedy that was wrought at Gallipoli.
The letters are read by Year 11 student Kate, combined with a soundtrack that will transport you to wartime Cairo.
Through Ursula’s own words, we honour the experiences of a young Ascham graduate whose compassion, resilience and service placed her close to one of the defining chapters of World War I.
Read our previous instalments of 14 Decades of Stories:
Pioneering feminist and first Ascham student Inez Bensusan
Brilliant scholar Ethel Lane Latham, who was the highest scoring female student in NSW in 1894 and 1895
Bessie Bundock, co-founder of Ascham’s yearbook, Charivari, which has become the School’s continuous primary historical record for over 120 years
Rania MacPhillamy MBE OBE who operated vast rest homes for wounded soldiers in Egypt during WWI
Mother and daughter Linda and Patricia Littlejohn, who smashed the glass ceiling in university and empowered women across society
Ascham Old Boy Lloyd Poulton, who was one of a handful of boys who were enrolled at Ascham early in the 20th century
Inspiring obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Joan Storey, whose determination and excellence opened doors for women in medicine
After overcoming a life-changing accident, Charlene Meade OAM became a Paralympic pioneer
