English Sterling Silver Capstan – King’s African Rifles

This distinguished English sterling silver capstan inkwell, hallmarked for Birmingham in 1936 with the maker’s mark “WNLtd” for William Neale & Sons, is a presentation piece steeped in personal and regimental history. Crafted in the classic capstan style, its circular, weighted base supports a stepped cylindrical inkwell, all made of polished sterling silver. The circular, slightly domed lid bears a beautifully engraved regimental crest at its center: the King’s Crown above a bugle horn suspended by a cord, with a scroll beneath inscribed “KING’S AFRICAN RIFLES”.

This emblem identifies the inkwell’s connection to the King’s African Rifles (KAR), a significant multi-battalion British colonial regiment formed in 1902 from various British possessions in East Africa. The KAR played a crucial role in maintaining security and defending the territories, serving with distinction in both World War I and World War II, including notable campaigns in East Africa and Burma. After the wars, the regiment continued its service during the lead-up to the independence of Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, Nyasaland, and British Somaliland.

What makes this inkwell particularly special are the engraved signatures of Captain J.O. Stuart’s fellow officers, carefully arranged in a circular pattern around the base. These personal inscriptions surround the central presentation engraving: “PRESENTED TO CAPTAIN J.O. STUART BY THE OFFICERS OF THE KING’S AFRICAN RIFLES ON THE OCCASION OF HIS MARRIAGE NOVEMBER 1937”.