This Russian soldier's drinking flask, of heart shape, dates from the 19th century. It is hollowed out of solid wood and decorated with geometric chip carvings. The paper label attached to the flask states that it was taken from a Russian soldier after the battle of Inkerman in the Crimean War by a British soldier as retribution, and that it was given to Captain M D Hammill, commander of the Transport Cambria. The battle of Inkerman was fought on November 5th 1854. It ended with a victory for the British and French but with a high number of causalities on all sides. An estimated 11,000 of the 42,000 Russian soldiers taking part in the battle were killed.