diff --git a/CHANGES.current b/CHANGES.current
index e26366a74..6d7b0ca46 100644
--- a/CHANGES.current
+++ b/CHANGES.current
@@ -7,6 +7,15 @@ the issue number to the end of the URL: https://github.com/swig/swig/issues/
 Version 4.0.0 (in progress)
 ===========================
 
+2019-02-18: jakecobb
+            [Python] #945 #1234 Elements in std::vector memory access fix.
+
+            Accessing an element in a std::vector obtains a reference to the element via an
+            iterator pointing to the element in the container. If the vector is garbage collected,
+            the SWIG wrapper containing the pointer to the element becomes invalid. The fix is
+            to obtain a back-reference to the container by the wrapper to the element in the Python
+            layer to prevent the garbage collector from destroying the underlying container.
+
 2019-02-17: wsfulton
             Fix typemap matching to expand template parameters when the name contains
             template parameters. In the %typemap below the type is T and the name is X<T>::make
diff --git a/Doc/Manual/CSharp.html b/Doc/Manual/CSharp.html
index a4e0be799..7a9b7470b 100644
--- a/Doc/Manual/CSharp.html
+++ b/Doc/Manual/CSharp.html
@@ -1828,7 +1828,7 @@ Consider the following C++ code:
 <pre>
 struct Wheel {
   int size;
-  Wheel(int sz) : size(sz) {}
+  Wheel(int sz = 0) : size(sz) {}
 };
 
 class Bike {
diff --git a/Doc/Manual/Extending.html b/Doc/Manual/Extending.html
index 1deb1cb12..b01328380 100644
--- a/Doc/Manual/Extending.html
+++ b/Doc/Manual/Extending.html
@@ -3711,7 +3711,7 @@ Below are some practical steps that should help meet these requirements.
   </li>
   <li>
   Copying an existing language module and adapting the source for it is likely to be the most efficient
-  approach to fully developing a new module as a numbe of corner cases are covered in the existing implementations.
+  approach to fully developing a new module as a number of corner cases are covered in the existing implementations.
   The most advanced scripting languages are Python and Ruby.
   The most advanced compiled target languages are Java and C#.
   </li>
diff --git a/Doc/Manual/Java.html b/Doc/Manual/Java.html
index 4c7b6d058..bf77c1562 100644
--- a/Doc/Manual/Java.html
+++ b/Doc/Manual/Java.html
@@ -8295,7 +8295,7 @@ Consider the following C++ code:
 <pre>
 struct Wheel {
   int size;
-  Wheel(int sz) : size(sz) {}
+  Wheel(int sz = 0) : size(sz) {}
 };
 
 class Bike {
diff --git a/Doc/Manual/Python.html b/Doc/Manual/Python.html
index 20e95775f..6a174fddf 100644
--- a/Doc/Manual/Python.html
+++ b/Doc/Manual/Python.html
@@ -5452,7 +5452,7 @@ Consider the following C++ code:
 #include &lt;iostream&gt;
 struct Wheel {
   int size;
-  Wheel(int sz) : size(sz) {}
+  Wheel(int sz = 0) : size(sz) {}
   ~Wheel() { std::cout &lt;&lt; "~Wheel" &lt;&lt; std::endl; }
 };
 
diff --git a/Doc/Manual/SWIGPlus.html b/Doc/Manual/SWIGPlus.html
index a6cb93f63..8ad9daedf 100644
--- a/Doc/Manual/SWIGPlus.html
+++ b/Doc/Manual/SWIGPlus.html
@@ -4616,7 +4616,7 @@ except Error, e:
 
 <p>
 Details of how to tailor code for handling the caught C++ exception and converting it into the target language's exception/error handling mechanism
-is outlined in the <a href="Typemaps.html#throws_typemap">"throws" typemap</a> section.
+is outlined in the <a href="Typemaps.html#Typemaps_throws_typemap">"throws" typemap</a> section.
 </p>
 
 <p>
diff --git a/Examples/ocaml/argout_ref/example.i b/Examples/ocaml/argout_ref/example.i
index 472a83804..a3e6bf8a6 100644
--- a/Examples/ocaml/argout_ref/example.i
+++ b/Examples/ocaml/argout_ref/example.i
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 /* File : example.i */
 %module example
 
-%typemap(argout) (int &x, int &y) {
+%typemap(argout) (const int &x, const int &y) {
   swig_result = caml_list_append(swig_result, caml_val_int(*$1));
   swig_result = caml_list_append(swig_result, caml_val_int(*$2));
 }
 
 %{
-extern "C" void   factor(int &x, int &y);
+extern "C" void factor(const int &x, const int &y);
 %}
 
-extern "C" void   factor(int &x, int &y);
+extern "C" void factor(const int &x, const int &y);
diff --git a/Examples/test-suite/common.mk b/Examples/test-suite/common.mk
index 11c537cbb..5a72ba730 100644
--- a/Examples/test-suite/common.mk
+++ b/Examples/test-suite/common.mk
@@ -647,6 +647,7 @@ CPP_STD_TEST_CASES += \
 	li_std_pair_using \
 	li_std_string \
 	li_std_vector \
+	li_std_vector_back_reference \
 	li_std_vector_enum \
 	li_std_vector_member_var\
 	li_std_vector_ptr \
diff --git a/Examples/test-suite/li_std_vector_back_reference.i b/Examples/test-suite/li_std_vector_back_reference.i
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..be41f4740
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Examples/test-suite/li_std_vector_back_reference.i
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+%module li_std_vector_back_reference
+
+%include <std_vector.i>
+
+%inline %{
+// #include <iostream>
+struct Wheel {
+  int size;
+  Wheel(int sz = 0) : size(sz) {}
+//  ~Wheel() { std::cout << "~Wheel" << std::endl; }
+};
+%}
+
+%template(VectorWheel) std::vector<Wheel>;
diff --git a/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/extend_placement_runme.ml b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/extend_placement_runme.ml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..31d9ae671
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/extend_placement_runme.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+open Swig
+open Extend_placement
+
+let _ =
+  let f = new_Foo '() in
+  assert (f -> spam () as int = 1);
+  assert (new_Foo '(1) -> spam () as int = 1);
+  let f = new_Foo '(1, 1) in
+  assert (f -> spam () as int = 1);
+  assert (f -> spam ("hello") as int = 2);
+  assert (f -> spam (1) as int = 1);
+  assert (f -> spam (1, 2) as int = 3);
+  assert (f -> spam (2, 4, 6) as int = 6);
+  assert (f -> spam (f) as int = 0);
+  let arg = C_double 1. in
+  assert (f -> spam (f, arg) as int = 0);
+
+  assert (new_Bar '() -> spam () as int = 1);
+  let b = new_Bar '(1) in
+  assert (b -> spam () as int = 1);
+  assert (b -> spam ("hello") as int = 2);
+  assert (b -> spam (1) as int = 1);
+  assert (b -> spam (1, 2) as int = 3);
+  assert (b -> spam (2, 4, 6) as int = 6);
+  assert (b -> spam (b) as int = 0);
+  let arg = C_double 1. in
+  assert (b -> spam (b, arg) as int = 0);
+
+  assert (new_FooTi '() -> spam () as int = 1);
+  assert (new_FooTi '(1) -> spam () as int = 1);
+  let f = new_FooTi '(1, 1) in
+  assert (f -> spam () as int = 1);
+  assert (f -> spam ("hello") as int = 2);
+  assert (f -> spam (1) as int = 1);
+  assert (f -> spam (1, 2) as int = 3);
+  assert (f -> spam (2, 4, 6) as int = 6);
+  let foo = new_Foo '() in
+  assert (f -> spam (foo) as int = 0);
+  let arg = C_double 1. in
+  assert (f -> spam (foo, arg) as int = 0);
+
+  assert (new_BarTi '() -> spam () as int = 1);
+  let b = new_BarTi '(1) in
+  assert (b -> spam () as int = 1);
+  assert (b -> spam ("hello") as int = 2);
+  assert (b -> spam (1) as int = 1);
+  assert (b -> spam (1, 2) as int = 3);
+  assert (b -> spam (2, 4, 6) as int = 6);
+  let bar = new_Bar '() in
+  assert (b -> spam (bar) as int = 0);
+  let arg = C_double 1. in
+  assert (b -> spam (bar, arg) as int = 0);
+;;
diff --git a/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/global_vars_runme.ml b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/global_vars_runme.ml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..75df89499
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/global_vars_runme.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+open Swig
+open Global_vars
+
+_init '()
+
+let _ =
+  assert (_b '() as string = "string b");
+  assert (_b '("a string value") as string = "a string value");
+  assert (_b '() as string = "a string value");
+  assert (_x '() as int = 1234);
+  assert (_x '(9876) as int = 9876);
+  assert (_x '() as int = 9876);
+  assert (_Hi '() as int = 0);
+  assert (_Hola '() as int = 1);
+;;
diff --git a/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/overload_template_runme.ml b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/overload_template_runme.ml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..42a4a397a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/overload_template_runme.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+open Swig
+open Overload_template
+
+let _ =
+  assert (_foo '() as int = 3);
+  assert (_maximum '(3, 4) as int = 4);
+  assert (_maximum '(3.4, 5.2) as float > 5.);
+  assert (_mix1 '("hi") as int = 101);
+  assert (_mix1 '(1.0, 1.0) as int = 102);
+  assert (_mix1 '(1.0) as int = 103);
+  assert (_mix2 '("hi") as int = 101);
+  assert (_mix2 '(1.0, 1.0) as int = 102);
+  assert (_mix2 '(1.0) as int = 103);
+  assert (_mix3 '("hi") as int = 101);
+  assert (_mix3 '(1.0, 1.0) as int = 102);
+  assert (_mix3 '(1.0) as int = 103);
+
+  assert (_overtparams1 '(100) as int = 10);
+  assert (_overtparams1 '(100.0, 100) as int = 20);
+  assert (_overtparams2 '(100.0, 100) as int = 40);
+  assert (_overloaded '() as int = 60);
+  assert (_overloaded '(100.0, 100) as int = 70);
+  assert (_overloadedagain '("hello") as int = 80);
+  assert (_overloadedagain '() as int = 90);
+
+  assert (_specialization '(10) as int = 202);
+  assert (_specialization '(10.0) as int = 203);
+  assert (_specialization '(10, 10) as int = 204);
+  assert (_specialization '(10.0, 10.0) as int = 205);
+  assert (_specialization '("hi", "hi") as int = 201);
+
+  assert (_xyz '() = C_void);
+  assert (_xyz_int '() = C_void);
+  assert (_xyz_double '() = C_void);
+
+  assert (_overload '("hi") as int = 0);
+  assert (_overload '(1) as int = 10);
+  assert (_overload '(1, 1) as int = 20);
+  assert (_overload '(1, "hello") as int = 30);
+  let k = new_Klass '() in
+  assert (_overload '(k) as int = 10);
+  assert (_overload '(k, k) as int = 20);
+  assert (_overload '(k, "hello") as int = 30);
+  assert (_overload '(10.0, "hi") as int = 40);
+  assert (_overload '() as int = 50);
+
+  assert (_nsoverload '("hi") as int = 1000);
+  assert (_nsoverload '(1) as int = 1010);
+  assert (_nsoverload '(1, 1) as int = 1020);
+  assert (_nsoverload '(1, "hello") as int = 1030);
+  assert (_nsoverload '(k) as int = 1010);
+  assert (_nsoverload '(k, k) as int = 1020);
+  assert (_nsoverload '(k, "hello") as int = 1030);
+  assert (_nsoverload '(10.0, "hi") as int = 1040);
+  assert (_nsoverload '() as int = 1050);
+
+  assert (_A_foo '(1) = C_void);
+  let b = new_B '() in
+  assert (b -> foo(1) = C_void);
+;;
diff --git a/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/reference_global_vars_runme.ml b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/reference_global_vars_runme.ml
index aa1708774..adde1b82e 100644
--- a/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/reference_global_vars_runme.ml
+++ b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/reference_global_vars_runme.ml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ let _ =
 
   let _ = _var_short (_createref_short (C_short 10)) in
   assert (_value_short (_var_short '()) as int = 10);
-  
+
   let _ = _var_unsigned_short (_createref_unsigned_short (C_ushort 10)) in
   assert (_value_unsigned_short (_var_unsigned_short '()) as int = 10);
 
diff --git a/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/sizet_runme.ml b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/sizet_runme.ml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5f72459c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/sizet_runme.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+open Swig
+open Sizet
+
+let _ =
+  let s = C_int64 2000L in
+  assert (_test1 '(s) as int = 2000);
+  assert (_test2 '(s) as int = 2000);
+  assert (_test3 '(s) as int = 2000);
+  assert (_test4 '(s) as int = 2000);
+;;
diff --git a/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/template_default_arg_overloaded_extend_runme.ml b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/template_default_arg_overloaded_extend_runme.ml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..27fb9b543
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/template_default_arg_overloaded_extend_runme.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+open Swig
+open Template_default_arg_overloaded_extend
+
+let _ =
+  let rs = new_ResultSet '() and sp = new_SearchPoint '() in
+  assert (rs -> go_get_method (0, sp) as int = -1);
+  assert (rs -> go_get_method (0, sp, 100) as int = 100);
+  assert (rs -> go_get_template (0, sp) as int = -2);
+  assert (rs -> go_get_template (0, sp, 100) as int = 100);
+
+  assert (rs -> over () as string = "over(int)");
+  assert (rs -> over (10) as string = "over(int)");
+  assert (rs -> over (sp) as string = "over(giai2::SearchPoint, int)");
+  assert (rs -> over (sp, 10) as string = "over(giai2::SearchPoint, int)");
+  assert (rs -> over (true, sp) as string = "over(bool, gaia2::SearchPoint, int)");
+  assert (rs -> over (true, sp, 10) as string = "over(bool, gaia2::SearchPoint, int)");
+;;
diff --git a/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/template_default_arg_runme.ml b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/template_default_arg_runme.ml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..94f2291f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/template_default_arg_runme.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+open Swig
+open Template_default_arg
+
+let _ =
+  let helloInt = new_Hello_int '() and enumArg = _hi '() in
+  assert (helloInt -> foo (enumArg) = C_void);
+  assert (helloInt -> foo () = C_void);
+
+  let x = new_X_int '() in
+  assert (x -> meth (20.0, 200) as int = 200);
+  assert (x -> meth (20) as int = 20);
+  assert (x -> meth () as int = 0);
+
+  let x = new_Y_unsigned '() in
+  let args = C_list [ C_double 20.0 ; C_uint 200l ] in
+  assert (x -> meth (args) as int = 200);
+  let args = C_uint 20l in
+  assert (x -> meth (args) as int = 20);
+  assert (x -> meth () as int = 0);
+
+  let x = new_X_longlong '() in
+  assert (x -> meth (20.0) as int = 0);
+  let x = new_X_longlong '(20.0) in
+  assert (x -> meth (20.0) as int = 0);
+  let args = C_list [ C_double 20.0 ; C_int64 200L ] in
+  let x = new_X_longlong '(args) in
+  assert (x -> meth (20.0) as int = 0);
+
+  let x = new_X_int '() in
+  assert (x -> meth (20.0) as int = 0);
+  let x = new_X_int '(20.0) in
+  assert (x -> meth (20.0) as int = 0);
+  let x = new_X_int '(20.0, 200) in
+  assert (x -> meth (20.0) as int = 0);
+
+  let arg = new_Foo_int '() in
+  assert (_ott '(arg) as int = 30);
+  assert (_ott '() as int = 10);
+  assert (_ott '(1) as int = 10);
+  assert (_ott '(1, 1) as int = 10);
+  assert (_ott '("hi") as int = 20);
+  assert (_ott '("hi", 1) as int = 20);
+  assert (_ott '("hi", 1, 1) as int = 20);
+
+  let arg = new_Hello_int '() in
+  assert (_ottstring '(arg, "hi") as int = 40);
+  assert (_ottstring '(arg) as int = 40);
+  assert (_ottint '(arg, 1) as int = 50);
+  assert (_ottint '(arg) as int = 50);
+  assert (_ott '(arg, 1.0) as int = 60);
+  assert (_ott '(arg) as int = 60);
+;;
diff --git a/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/typedef_reference_runme.ml b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/typedef_reference_runme.ml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4c9cc6fca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/typedef_reference_runme.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+open Swig
+open Typedef_reference
+
+let _ =
+  let i = _copy_intp '(2) in
+  assert (_somefunc '(i) as int = 2);
+  assert (_delete_intp '(i) = C_void);
+  let i = _copy_intp '(3) in
+  assert (_otherfunc '(i) as int = 3);
+  assert (_delete_intp '(i) = C_void);
+;;
diff --git a/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/wrapmacro_runme.ml b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/wrapmacro_runme.ml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f11136360
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Examples/test-suite/ocaml/wrapmacro_runme.ml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+open Swig
+open Wrapmacro
+
+let _ =
+  let args = C_list [ C_int64 2L ; C_int64 1L ] in
+  assert (_maximum '(args) as int = 2);
+  let args =  C_list [ C_double (2. /. 7.) ; C_double 256. ] in 
+  assert (_maximum '(args) as float = 256.);
+  assert (_GUINT16_SWAP_LE_BE_CONSTANT '(0x1234) as int = 0x3412);
+;;
diff --git a/Examples/test-suite/python/li_std_vector_back_reference_runme.py b/Examples/test-suite/python/li_std_vector_back_reference_runme.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cec9e8cc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Examples/test-suite/python/li_std_vector_back_reference_runme.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+from li_std_vector_back_reference import *
+
+def first_element():
+    v = VectorWheel((Wheel(11), Wheel(22)))
+    # v will be deleted after exit from this method
+    return v[0]
+
+size = first_element().size
+if size != 11:
+    raise RuntimeError("Back reference not working {}".format(size))
diff --git a/Lib/ocaml/ocaml.swg b/Lib/ocaml/ocaml.swg
index 2da3fb769..3d552cc50 100644
--- a/Lib/ocaml/ocaml.swg
+++ b/Lib/ocaml/ocaml.swg
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ extern "C" {
 		    SWIG_TypeCheckStruct(source_type, dest_type );
 #ifdef TYPE_CAST_VERBOSE
 		fprintf( stderr, "Typecheck -> %s\n",
-			 tc ? tc->str : "<none>" );
+			 tc ? tc->type->str : "<none>" );
 #endif
 		if( tc ) {
 		    int newmemory = 0;
diff --git a/Lib/ocaml/std_common.i b/Lib/ocaml/std_common.i
index 6523af0b5..7e64607d9 100644
--- a/Lib/ocaml/std_common.i
+++ b/Lib/ocaml/std_common.i
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 %include <std/std_except.i>
 
 %apply size_t { std::size_t };
+%apply const size_t& { const std::size_t& };
 
 %{
 #include <string>
diff --git a/Lib/ocaml/std_string.i b/Lib/ocaml/std_string.i
index 0ea9b4e2d..712c3bb73 100644
--- a/Lib/ocaml/std_string.i
+++ b/Lib/ocaml/std_string.i
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ class wstring;
 %typemap(out) string * {
 	$result = caml_val_string_len((*$1).c_str(),(*$1).size());
 }
+%typemap(typecheck) string, const string & = char *;
 }
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_CHARPTR_ARRAY
diff --git a/Lib/ocaml/typecheck.i b/Lib/ocaml/typecheck.i
index 538b694d3..74d2727e1 100644
--- a/Lib/ocaml/typecheck.i
+++ b/Lib/ocaml/typecheck.i
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@
   long, signed long, unsigned long,
   long long, signed long long, unsigned long long,
   const long &, const signed long &, const unsigned long &,
-  const long long &, const signed long long &, const unsigned long long &
+  const long long &, const signed long long &, const unsigned long long &,
+  size_t, const size_t &
 {
   if( !Is_block($input) ) $1 = 0;
   else {
@@ -135,24 +136,42 @@
 }
 
 %typecheck(SWIG_TYPECHECK_POINTER) SWIGTYPE *, SWIGTYPE &, SWIGTYPE &&, SWIGTYPE [] {
-  void *ptr;
-  $1 = !caml_ptr_val_internal($input, &ptr,$descriptor);
+  if (!Is_block($input) || !(SWIG_Tag_val($input) == C_obj || SWIG_Tag_val($input) == C_ptr)) {
+    $1 = 0;
+  } else {
+    void *ptr;
+    $1 = !caml_ptr_val_internal($input, &ptr, $descriptor);
+  }
 }
 
-#if 0
-
 %typecheck(SWIG_TYPECHECK_POINTER) SWIGTYPE {
-  void *ptr;
-  $1 = !caml_ptr_val_internal($input, &ptr, $&1_descriptor);
+  swig_type_info *typeinfo;
+  if (!Is_block($input)) {
+    $1 = 0;
+  } else {
+    switch (SWIG_Tag_val($input)) {
+      case C_obj: {
+        void *ptr;
+        $1 = !caml_ptr_val_internal($input, &ptr, $&1_descriptor);
+        break;
+      }
+      case C_ptr: {
+        typeinfo = (swig_type_info *)SWIG_Int64_val(SWIG_Field($input, 1));
+        $1 = SWIG_TypeCheck("$1_type", typeinfo) != NULL;
+        break;
+      }
+      default: $1 = 0; break;
+    }
+  }
 }
 
-#endif
-
 %typecheck(SWIG_TYPECHECK_VOIDPTR) void * {
   void *ptr;
   $1 = !caml_ptr_val_internal($input, &ptr, 0);
 }
 
+%typecheck(SWIG_TYPECHECK_SWIGOBJECT) CAML_VALUE "$1 = 1;"
+
 %define INPUT_OUTPUT_INOUT_TYPEMAPS(type, c_to_ocaml, ocaml_to_c)
 %typemap(in) type *INPUT(type temp), type &INPUT(type temp) {
   temp = (type)ocaml_to_c($input);
diff --git a/Lib/ocaml/typemaps.i b/Lib/ocaml/typemaps.i
index 916b189d0..08a0c97c9 100644
--- a/Lib/ocaml/typemaps.i
+++ b/Lib/ocaml/typemaps.i
@@ -132,11 +132,11 @@
 %typemap(varin) C_NAME {
     $1 = OCAML_TO_C($input);
 }
-%typemap(in) C_NAME & ($*1_ltype temp) {
+%typemap(in) const C_NAME & ($*1_ltype temp) {
     temp = ($*1_ltype) OCAML_TO_C($input);
     $1 = &temp;
 }
-%typemap(varin) C_NAME & {
+%typemap(varin) const C_NAME & {
     $1 = OCAML_TO_C($input);
 }
 %typemap(directorout) C_NAME {
@@ -149,10 +149,10 @@
 %typemap(varout) C_NAME {
     $result = C_TO_OCAML($1);
 }
-%typemap(varout) C_NAME & {
+%typemap(varout) const C_NAME & {
     $result = C_TO_OCAML($1);
 }
-%typemap(out) C_NAME & {
+%typemap(out) const C_NAME & {
     $result = C_TO_OCAML(*$1);
 }
 %typemap(directorin) C_NAME {
diff --git a/Lib/python/pycontainer.swg b/Lib/python/pycontainer.swg
index 36557d75e..5c2a981ee 100644
--- a/Lib/python/pycontainer.swg
+++ b/Lib/python/pycontainer.swg
@@ -36,6 +36,48 @@
 
 %include <std_except.i>
 
+%fragment("container_owner_attribute_init", "init") {
+  // thread safe initialization
+  swig::container_owner_attribute();
+}
+
+%fragment("reference_container_owner", "header", fragment="container_owner_attribute_init") {
+namespace swig {
+  PyObject* container_owner_attribute() {
+    static PyObject* attr = SWIG_Python_str_FromChar("__swig_container");
+    return attr;
+  }
+
+  template <typename T>
+  struct container_owner {
+    // By default, do not add the back-reference (for value types)
+    // Specialization below will check the reference for pointer types.
+    static bool back_reference(PyObject* child, PyObject* owner) {
+      return false;
+    }
+  };
+
+  template <>
+  struct container_owner<swig::pointer_category> {  
+    /*
+     * Call to add a back-reference to the owning object when returning a 
+     * reference from a container.  Will only set the reference if child
+     * is a SWIG wrapper object that does not own the pointer.
+     *
+     * returns whether the reference was set or not
+     */
+    static bool back_reference(PyObject* child, PyObject* owner) {
+      SwigPyObject* swigThis = SWIG_Python_GetSwigThis(child);
+      if (swigThis && (swigThis->own & SWIG_POINTER_OWN) != SWIG_POINTER_OWN) {
+        PyObject_SetAttr(child, container_owner_attribute(), owner);
+        return true;
+      }
+      return false;
+    }
+  };
+}
+}
+
 %fragment(SWIG_Traits_frag(swig::SwigPtr_PyObject),"header",fragment="StdTraits") {
 namespace swig {
   template <>  struct traits<SwigPtr_PyObject > {
@@ -766,6 +808,12 @@ namespace swig
     size_type __len__() const {
       return self->size();
     }
+
+    // Although __getitem__, front, back actually use a const value_type& return type, the typemaps below
+    // use non-const so that they can be easily overridden by users if necessary.
+    %typemap(ret, fragment="reference_container_owner", noblock=1) value_type& __getitem__, value_type& front, value_type& back {
+      (void)swig::container_owner<swig::traits<$*1_ltype>::category>::back_reference($result, $self);
+    }
   }
 %enddef