Lock of hair taken from Cawnpore and mounted on velvet board, 1857

On 6 June 1857, during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859), rebel forces under Nana Sahib laid siege to Cawnpore. The garrison of British and Indians, half of whom were women and children, held out for 20 days before surrendering on the promise of a safe conduct. As they embarked on the boats which were to carry them to safety, almost all the men were murdered, the remnant were later shot.

The women and children were returned as captives to Cawnpore, where they were later massacred on the approach of a British relief column. Major George Bingham of the 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot was one of the first soldiers to visit the scene after the capture of the city on 17 July 1857:

'The place was literally running ankle deep in blood, ladies' hair torn from their heads was lying about the floor; poor little children's shoes lying here and there, gowns, frocks and bonnets belonging to these poor creatures scattered everywhere. But to crown all horrors, after they had been killed, and even some alive, all were thrown down a deep well in the compound. I looked down and saw them lying in heaps. I very much fear there are some of my friends included in this most atrocious fiendish of murders'.

Extract from the diary of Major George Bingham, 1857. (NAM. 1959-03-105)