A charity held its annual tribute over the weekend to a US Navy sailor who died as a prisoner in Bermuda during the War of 1812.

Members of the Bermuda Island Pipe Band led a procession from King’s Square, in St George, to the grave of midshipman Richard Sutherland Dale at St Peter’s church.

The ceremony, hosted by the Friends of St Peter’s church, was officiated by the its interim priest Venerable Marie Loewan and the Reverend Canon John Stow.

Deputy Governor Tom Oppenheim, St George Mayor George Dowling III, the United States Consul-General Karen Grissette, members of the United States Navy and the TS Admiral Somers sea cadet corps, all paid tribute to the SS sailor.

Midshipman Dale was serving on the US warship President during the War of 1812, but the ship was captured and taken to St George’s Harbour by a British squadron in 1815, after a 15-hour battle. Once on shore, the injured officer was cared for but later died.

The annual tribute to his memory began in 1932 and continued until the US Navy left the island in 1995, but started again in 2006 and has been going on every year since.

Attendees at the ceremony on Saturday, observed one minutes’ silence in Midshipman Dale’s memory and the service ended with the playing and singing of the British and US national anthems.