HMS Belfast Visit Leads London Man to Discovery of Long Lost Grandfather

A family visit to the historic warship HMS Belfast has led a London man to an unexpected and deeply personal discovery about his family history.

Lawrence Fong was visiting the Second World War era ship on the River Thames with his wife and children in 2024 when he noticed a photograph displayed in the vessel’s East Asia Mess Decks. While reading the caption, one name immediately caught his attention. It was Lau So, a name he recognised as belonging to his maternal grandfather.

Fong said he had known very little about his grandfather growing up. He was aware that Lau So had served as a sailor during the Korean War, but details about his military career and life were largely absent from family stories. Lau So died when Fong’s mother was still very young, leaving a gap in the family’s understanding of his background.

Intrigued by the discovery, Fong contacted museum staff to ask about the photograph. Researchers later confirmed that Lau So had indeed served on HMS Belfast, helping to piece together a part of the family’s history that had been lost for decades.

Fong described the moment as emotional and surreal. What began as a routine museum visit turned into a connection across generations, linking his children to a great grandfather they had never known. He said seeing his grandfather’s name and image displayed publicly made his service feel real and tangible for the first time.

Museum officials said discoveries like this highlight the importance of preserving naval records and personal stories connected to historic ships. HMS Belfast, which served in the Second World War and the Korean War, continues to act as a bridge between national history and individual family memories.

For Fong, the experience has prompted new conversations within his family and a renewed interest in understanding their past. He said the visit helped turn an almost forgotten name into a story that will now be passed on to future generations.