A painstaking deep dive into the island’s past has yielded an inventory of curiosities for the Bermuda Historical Society Museum, where close to 90 per cent of items have been recorded by volunteer and retired police sergeant Sean Morris.

Illustrated with photographs, the updated catalogue marks the first accounting of the society’s artefacts at its museum in Hamilton since 1992.

“A lot of new things came in over the years since then,” Mr Morris said.

The job took him more than two years delving into centuries of items, from silverware, paintings, china, furniture and coins to police memorabilia and relics from prisoners of the Boer War.

His labour of love identifying the exhibit pieces and incorporating the fresh additions came with some surprises.

Mr Morris said: “There are so many miscellaneous items — you can really go down the rabbit hole. There is a letter from the author Rudyard Kipling, which was inside an old book of autographs.”

The brief letter, from 1930 and addressed to the Reverend R.O. Walker, was found inside the book within a display case in the dining room of the museum, which adjoins the Bermuda National Library on Queen Street.

Mr Morris said: “Another quirky item is the headstone for the grave of George Wellington Linford, who died saving somebody off North Shore.”

Private Linford, of the East Yorkshire Regiment, died in June 1918 trying to rescue seven-year-old Thomas Stone. Both drowned.

His original headstone, which had stood at Prospect in Devonshire, ended up broken and was discarded at the airport dump. Recovered and restored, it was donated to the society.

Mr Morris said: “There are some police items, including a cigarette case and a medal given to Albert Rogerson, a police officer who was badly injured in 1921 and received a medal for gallantry.

“I’m interested in police and military history, so that one stands out to me.”

History records that Mr Rogerson was on patrol during an era when the east end of Reid Street was a notoriously rough area of Hamilton.

He arrested a man after encountering a fight in Fagan’s Alley. The man attacked him and was joined by a group armed with sticks and bottles, who beat the officer and dragged him towards Front Street while he maintained a grip on his intended detainee.

Mr Rogerson’s injuries included getting slashed with a razor, and his left hand was left almost useless.

He returned to England and was awarded the King's Police Medal for Gallantry by King George V. Mr Rogerson ultimately returned to Bermuda, married and remained on the island.

Copies of the inventory went for sale this month, but it can also be explored online at hub.catalogit.app/10326.

Mr Morris discovered the job after discussing researching his family’s history with Andrew Bermingham, the head of the Bermuda Historical Society.

He said: “Andy mentioned the desire to update the society’s inventory covering everything they have.

“I was given a digital version, done by Keith Forbes on a very early Macintosh laptop — you couldn’t search for anything, but it was very detailed.

“I couldn’t imagine doing it with the hardware and software they had back then.”

Mr Bermingham said that the fresh, wire-bound inventory had been compiled with the professional assistance of Glen Phillips and his team at the digital printing company ProServe.

He added: “Sean’s effort is to be commended and allows one to tour the museum without even visiting it.”

The museum, staffed by volunteers, is one of Hamilton’s hidden treasures, but will open on request for tours, including schools and businesses.