The definition of identity takes many physical forms and mental configurations. For people, identification begins at birth when names are assigned to the newborn, sometimes a unique combination of forename and surname, but often repeating the appellation of a parent or ancestor.

This is a characteristic that we do not share with other species of the animal kingdom, for as far as is known, it is only in cartoons that we create that Chicken Little or Mickey Mouse and other animals are named. Of course, different cultures have different ways of naming, resulting in translation with names like "Jade Flower" or "Sitting Bull", the latter sometimes used as a nickname in Bermuda, one is given to understand.

Identification numbers and names, or IDs, have long been with us, so that the Government authorities can track and tax us. Car licences, social security numbers, passport numbers ¿ the list gets longer by the day and was accelerated with the advent of the personal computer.

I seem to have so many IDs and passwords to identify those identifications, that I have difficulty remembering which identity pertains to which aspect of my existence, but if you call me "Doc", like many do, I will probably respond. The ultimate ID is now one's DNA profile and I think I will send mine to the Genome Project, so I will truly know who I am, at least on the maternal lineage.

In days long gone in some countries, but unfortunately still prevalent in others, many people were illiterate and so pictorial means of identification were developed by the powers that were, so that the lower classes could recognize the great and (sometimes) good. Some of those early "logos" were the coats-of-arms of royalty, noble families, and corporate entities, such as towns and countries.

The logo that says "Bermuda" ¿ without saying it in writing ¿ is the coat-of-arms of a mythical beast holding a picture of a ship crashing onto the rocks that are our protective reefs. Such pictorial IDs entered the romance of ages, with stories such as Camelot, wherein the personal identities of warring knights were obscured by total body armour, necessitating the use of personal flags or standards to identify the hero within.

Perhaps we need to bring back such identification for the bike riders of today, whose modern wrap-around helmets with darkened visors take us back to the times of Galahad and Lancelot.

The Royal Navy identified its ships by a wealth of very descriptive names, of which Victory, Invincible, and Irresistible come easily to mind. These were prefaced by "HMS", for His, or Her, Majesty's Ship, such and such. Thus HMS Pickle was the Bermuda-built sloop that carried the word of the victory at Trafalgar to Britain in 1805.

Ships were also named by a grouping, such that the last HMS Bermuda was a member of the Colony Class, which included HMS Trinidad and HMS Mauritius, other British possessions of the day.

In the late 19th century, naval heraldry also came into play, with crests, or coats-of-arms, displayed on the superstructure of English warships. With the advent of such identifiers, the design was used on many facets of life associated with a ship, and small crests were given away as souvenirs at visiting ports.

Sailors also got into the habit of painting an image of the crest on docks and dockside buildings during their visits. Geoffrey Frith of Bermuda Container Line reminded me recently that such works of art were very much a feature of the Hamilton waterfront in the times of our youth.

At the Royal Naval Dockyard, there are dozens of such paintings of crests that were emblazoned onto walls and buildings of the South Yard by HM Ships and vessels of other navies and the merchant marine. Since the departure of the Royal Navy from Bermuda in 1995, the paintings have deteriorated, like most painted objects left unmaintained on this speck of land in a great ocean, although they were partly repainted some years ago by a group called Random Acts of Kindness.

A few days ago, like a determined military force, almost 200 souls, including personnel from KPMG Bermuda and students and teachers from the Bermuda High School descended on the Dockyard to repaint that great collection of ships' logos.

It was a sight to behold on a fine sunny day, with all wielding paintbrushes, marking pens and other weapons of renewal. The exercise was completed within normal working hours and to the amazement of some people, nearly all the crests of great warships of yesteryear were repainted, or in computer terms, "refreshed".

The result has not only preserved the images for another decade, but has enlivened an area of the Dockyard that had become somewhat rundown. At night, under headlights, the crests are even more stunning and all should be congratulated for that magnificent act for the public good.

According to KPMG's Joanne MacPhee, "the project was organised in association with KPMG's annual 'Make a Difference Day' (MADD), a day set aside by the firm to engage in a significant and meaningful community project. This year the firm partnered with Grade 8 students (12 year olds) from Bermuda High School, led by their science teacher, Mrs. Tracey Keane. This was the first time KPMG has ever organised one of these projects in association with another group, but it was actually the School which contacted us about the opportunity, asking if we would lend our support.

"Given it is known that eventually these wonderful historical references to our rich maritime history will be destroyed and that there is currently no single, definitive record of the crests, we felt it was an invaluable opportunity to assist not only those such as the Maritime Museum, but any and all organisations and or individuals interested in recording and cataloguing forever this part of our heritage."

KPMG's managing partner, Steve Green, approved the project, which was overseen by Marcia DeCouto of the firm. Keen Ltd. and Dynamic Excavating donated a high-lift for the day and Pembroke Paint gave a lot of the materials used for the work. Artists Molly Godet and Margaret Potts gave up their day to advise on some of the more intricate paintings.

Judging by the results, all involved with the project gave a good accounting of themselves, which has stood up to the scrutiny of several heritage auditors. The repainting of the ships' IDs could not have come at a more appropriate time, for next year marks the bicentennial of the founding of the Dockyard in 1809.

The crests will thus be a vibrant reminder of the long and beneficial association Bermuda had with the Royal Navy and the Dockyard, when the latter was the largest industrial complex on the island.

Dr. Edward Harris, MBE, JP, FSA, Bermudian, is the Executive Director of the Bermuda Maritime Museum. This article represents his opinions and not necessarily those of persons associated with the Museum. Comments can be sent to drharrislogic.bm or by telephone to 332-5480.