My grandfather, John Augustus Hollington, served with the RASC at HQ 4 Corps in India during the second world war. Whilst there he began drawing cartoons to illustrate letters home to his son, my father, who was born in 1941 a few months before my grandfather was shipped out. He then began a unit magazine "Trunk Call" which he edited, illustrated and wrote most of the content for. Several of his cartoons were then published in the newspapers/magazines of SEAC (South East Asia Command).
In one of the newspapers a page was given over to an article about him with a short "bio" (which I suspect he may have written himself) and several of his cartoons.
The bio ran -
"Untrained in art Cpl. John Hollington (Frolik) first tried his hand at illustrating letters to his infant son, then got his stuff published out here. A London born accountants clerk, he was claimed in 1940 by the Royal Fusiliers who, realising their mistake, quickly passed him on to the RASC. Left England, wife and son in 1941, and, after a month in Bagdad, was smuggled into India. Crossed to the uncomfortable side of the Brahmaputra in 1942 where, except for two months in Supremo's New Delhi HQ he has been dodging mosquitoes and the Camp Commandant ever since. As editor of the unit's magazine "Trunk Call" he burns midnight oil, being main contributor under various aliases. Vices include verse writing. Virtues: teetotal and non-smoker. Thinks all people are funny, especially the serious ones. Great moments: gaining smile from Wingate, shaking hands with Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten. Heroes of family are tolerant wife and Brother Bill of the Chindits."
When he returned after the war he continued drawing cartoons and had about 50 published in "Punch" magazine between 1948 and 1953.
We have many of the cartoons and poems he produced during the war and also most of the editions of "Trunk Call" he produced and we are attempting to get these onto the web as I write - watch this space!
Would love to hear from anyone who served with 4 Corps, knew my Grandfather or remembers "Frolik"
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