Lot 38: Leo Rawlings (British, 1918-1984) Liberation day, Changi prison camp and a caricature of Bombardier Stanley Wishart, Royal Artillery Regiment, a pair one 16 x 20.5cm (6 5/16 x 8 1/16in); the other 27.5 x 18cm (10 13/16 x 7 1/16in)

Liberation day, Changi prison camp and a caricature of Bombardier Stanley Wishart, Royal Artillery Regiment, a pair
one signed 'L. Rawlings' (lower left); the other signed, dated and inscribed 'L. Rawlings/28/8/45/Changi Jail/Lipone' (lower right)
one ink sketch; the other watercolour over pencil
one 16 x 20.5cm (6 5/16 x 8 1/16in); the other 27.5 x 18cm (10 13/16 x 7 1/16in)
(2)

Leo Rawlings was born in Birmingham and studied at Mosely School of Arts and Crafts. At the outbreak of war he joined the 137th Field Regiment (Blackpool), Royal Artillery where he became Regimental Artist. In September 1941 he was posted to support the beleaguered garrison at Singapore.

He was taken prisoner after the surrender in February 1942 and then came to the notice of Lt. Gen. Sir Louis Heath who commissioned him to keep an accurate record of his experiences and those of his fellow POWs. Rawlings had no paints, paper or brushes so was forced to use plant and clay pigments, scavenged paper and his own hair in the execution of some works. During captivity he stored works in an old stove pipe buried beneath his bed, as their discovery would have been fatal.