Box containing bone splinters from the arm of Lieutenant Charles Fletcher, 48th Bengal Native Infantry, 1857

During the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859) the Residency compound at Lucknow was under constant attack throughout July and August 1857. A number of rebel assaults were made, but all were beaten off with heavy casualties. The biggest attack occurred on 10 August when over 450 rebels were killed. Most British casualties during the siege were the result of artillery and sniping. A musket ball shattered Fletcher's arm during one such exchange.