I checked my Coupon Cookery by Prudence Penny cookbook, and this is the only chocolate cake recipe listed. This book was written specifically as a wartime cooking guide, to help people efficiently use their rationing coupons.
Prudence Penny was a very popular cookbook author during that time period, so hopefully this recipe is the one you're looking for, or at least similar:

HONEY CHOCOLATE CAKE

1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon double action baking powder
3/4 teaspoon soda
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup sour milk
3/4 cup honey

Cream shortening and brown sugar thoroughly. Add well-beaten eggs.

Sift dry ingredients, add alternately in thirds to the sugar mixture with the milk, mixing each time until smooth. Add the honey last and mix lightly. Add flavoring; pour into well-greased 9 inch layer tins.

Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

(No frosting is mentioned. The "flavoring" mentioned at the end of the recipe is not described in the list of ingredients. I guess you just went with what you had.)

FROM: Coupon Cookery by Prudence Penny, Published by Murray & Gee, Inc., Hollywood, California, 1943