TRANSCRIBED FROM THE JONESBORO WEEKLY SUN FEBRUARY 20, 1918, P. 5
Dec. 28th, 1917.
Dear Uncle John:
Arrived in England safe and sound. You can sure tell that there is a war going on some place by conditions here. The women here are doing nearly all the work.
Tell all your friends to take care of the wheat and sugar. We have plenty of meat.
I don’t believe a thing is wasted over here now. Food is very expensive in hotels. Beds are very cheap. 4 shillings for one day. That is practically a dollar of our money. We sure had a picnic learning how to spend English money. They have the half penny, the penny, three pence, six pence, 12 pence or shilling, 2 pence or florin, 1-2 crown or 2 shilling 6 pence, 10 shillings note and the pound note. A pound is about $5.00.
We cannot hardly understand what they say. Talk is different than at home.
The towns are just like you use to read about when you were a boy. This one is over 700 years old, where the British Empire first began. King Alfred.
I will be in the big game before very long. Give my regards to all my friends in Jonesboro. Would like to write to them all but have not the time. Write often as all your letters won’t get past the submarine zone.
Your nephew,
EARL.
NOTES: Lieutenant Earl Alfonso Riga was in the American Aviation Forces. He was born April 28, 1892 in Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas. His 1917 draft card described him as medium build and he was tall. He had brown hair and black eyes. He died December 3, 1984 and is buried in Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, Hillsborough County, Florida.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Dec. 28th, 1917.
Dear Uncle John:
Arrived in England safe and sound. You can sure tell that there is a war going on some place by conditions here. The women here are doing nearly all the work.
Tell all your friends to take care of the wheat and sugar. We have plenty of meat.
I don’t believe a thing is wasted over here now. Food is very expensive in hotels. Beds are very cheap. 4 shillings for one day. That is practically a dollar of our money. We sure had a picnic learning how to spend English money. They have the half penny, the penny, three pence, six pence, 12 pence or shilling, 2 pence or florin, 1-2 crown or 2 shilling 6 pence, 10 shillings note and the pound note. A pound is about $5.00.
We cannot hardly understand what they say. Talk is different than at home.
The towns are just like you use to read about when you were a boy. This one is over 700 years old, where the British Empire first began. King Alfred.
I will be in the big game before very long. Give my regards to all my friends in Jonesboro. Would like to write to them all but have not the time. Write often as all your letters won’t get past the submarine zone.
Your nephew,
EARL.
NOTES: Lieutenant Earl Alfonso Riga was in the American Aviation Forces. He was born April 28, 1892 in Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas. His 1917 draft card described him as medium build and he was tall. He had brown hair and black eyes. He died December 3, 1984 and is buried in Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, Hillsborough County, Florida.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT