In 2024, during his visit to the museum ship HMS Belfast with his wife and children, Lawrence Fong stumbled upon an incredible revelation.
While exploring the East Asia Mess Decks aboard the vessel, he came across a photograph that caught his attention. Upon reading the caption, he recognized the name of the individual depicted — Lau So.
This was the very name of his maternal grandfather, regarding whom Lawrence had limited knowledge.
He was aware, however, that his grandfather had served as a sailor during the Korean War and had passed away when Lawrence’s mother was quite young.
Launched in 1938, HMS Belfast participated in both World War II and the Korean War, and since 1971, it has been stationed on the River Thames near Tower Bridge.
Managed as part of the Imperial War Museum (IWM), HMS Belfast serves as a popular tourist destination in London, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
With no surviving relatives available to verify if Lau So had indeed served aboard HMS Belfast, Lawrence allowed the moment to fade from his memory.
In the summer of 2025, motivated by intrigue, Lawrence’s wife Joanne approached one of the volunteers at the Belfast to learn more about Lau So’s story.
The learning and engagement team at the IWM dedicated numerous hours combing through archival material, ultimately confirming that Lau So was indeed Lawrence’s grandfather.
Volunteer Mark Littler mentioned that Lau So’s name was “well known among the team – he was the only Hong Kong sailor who lost his life on the ship during the Korean War (1950-1953).”
“He held the position of leading steward.”
In that capacity, Lau So was responsible for managing the meals and living quarters for senior officers and was “remembered fondly.”
Following his passing, the warship was docked to allow for a burial on land in line with Chinese traditions.
His family received both compensation and donations, and Lawrence’s grandmother eventually remarried a few years after Lau So’s death.
Today, Lau So’s four grandchildren are spread between the UK and Hong Kong, maintaining a close family bond despite the distance.
