The Guild of the Holy Compassion held its annual memorial service to commemorate the St George’s pilots lost when their gig Ocean Queen capsized in a storm off the East End in 1927.

The pilots were en route to bringing a merchant ship into St George’s when the tragedy occurred.

Additionally, the service was for the men lost from the container ship Lloyd Bermuda which sank in rough seas in December 1988, between New Jersey and Bermuda.

A replica of the pilot gig Ocean Queen was at the ceremony, crewed by Maurice Johnson and eight rowers.

And the pilot boat St David met the cargo ship Somers Isle off St David’s as the container vessel made its way down the channel to the open sea.

Pilot Anthony Lightbourne, who guided Somers Isle down the channel, was dressed in the costume of 19th century pilot Jemmy Darrell, a slave who guided Admiral George Murray’s flagship HMS Resolution through Bermuda’s treacherous reefs in 1795.

Admiral Murray was so impressed by Mr Darrell’s skill, he recommended he be freed.

Governor James Craufurd released Mr Darrell from his enslavement the following year.

Watched by the crew of Somers Isle and the rowers from the replica pilot gig, Reverend Jamaine Tucker of Holy Trinity Church in Bailey’s Bay blessed the wreaths before they were placed overboard from the stern of St David.

Derek Tully, of the Guild of the Holy Compassion, said: “This is an important ceremony, especially for East Enders.

“From the earliest times in Bermuda people from St George’s and St David’s have had strong connections with the sea and ships.”