A rare moment of history caught in a “remarkable” photograph has been bequeathed to the Bermuda Archives.

Bermudian author and military historian Seán Pòl Ó Creachmhaoil tracked down and donated the 1869 picture taken in St George’s showing the floating dock that now lies in the shallows off Spanish Point making its arrival in Bermuda waters.

Among the vessels involved was HMS Vixen, now a tourist attraction in the waters off Daniel’s Head, Somerset, where it was deliberately sunk.

Andrew Bermingham, head of the Bermuda Historical Society, said: “This really does bring history alive.

“Seán has sent us superb photos of the military in Bermuda for several years. His book Fortress Bermuda is a must-read.

“This photo is probably the most iconic image ever of Bermuda’s rich military history.”

He added: “It shows great detail of the town, which was very well built up in 1869, right over to the garrison field, and the dock towed from Portsmouth. One of the ships is HMS Warrior, which is now a museum piece at the Portsmouth Dockyard.”

The picture was taken at 11am on July 29 from Fort George, overlooking Rose Hill and St George, with a host of ships off the East End.

According to Mr Ó Creachmhaoil, the dock arrived under tow by HMS Warrior and HMS Black Prince, with HMS Terrible astern as a rudder, and accompanied by HMS Lapwing, which went ahead on the 27th to alert the Dockyard of its arrival.

The dock was towed through the channel by HMS Terrible, assisted by the tugboat Spitfire, with HMS Vixen and HMS Viper tied abeam, one on either side of the dock.

HMS Barracouta, a Royal Navy paddle sloop, had arrived in Bermuda beforehand to assist, but was in quarantine because of yellow fever among the crew.