A charity set up to care for the graves of seamen celebrated its 100th anniversary with a special service.

The Guild of the Holy Compassion marked its century with a wreath-laying ceremony off St David’s last Friday.

Derek Tully, guild secretary, said: “This was a very historical event. Along with the St George’s families we had representatives from all the shipping companies with us as well as former senior pilots such Harold Millett and Keith Battersbee.

“It was an excellent representation of Bermuda’s rich maritime history.”

Among the guests on the pilot boat St David were descendants of St George’s men lost in 1929 when their pilot gig Ocean Queen 2 capsized in severe weather off Kitchen Shoals as they were en route to meet a freighter. Their bodies were never recovered.

The crew of the cargo ship Lloyd Bermuda, which capsized in heavy seas en route from New Jersey to Bermuda in 1988, was also remembered.

Memorials to the men of Lloyd Bermuda and Ocean Queen 2 are at the seamen’s plot in St George’s Cemetery. The St David met up with the cargo ship Somers Isle at Five Fathom Hole.

Chief pilot Mario Thompson guided the cargo ship down the channel from Hamilton to meet the pilot boat.

Mr Thompson was dressed in the 18th-century costume of pilot Jemmy Darrell, a freed slave who guided Admiral Ramsay’s warships through Bermuda’s treacherous reefs over two centuries ago.

The replica pilot rowing gig James T Griffith also took part in the ceremony.

The gig, built in Devon, England, is based in St George’s.

Reverend Tom Slawson of St Peter’s Church in St George said prayers for those lost at sea before he blessed the wreaths.

The guild was established in 1918 and is associated with the Missions to Seamen in the United Kingdom.