Lore, William King Lowd

He attended McGill University. Before his naval service he was a radio operator for Trans-Canada Airlines at Dorval Airport, Montreal QC. After his naval service he took a law degree at Oxford University, eventually setting up his practice in Hong Kong.

He was also the Hong Kong representative of the Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada. (It is also rumored that he was one of the 'eyes and ears' for the western intelligence services.

He was appointed as a Probationary Sub-Lieutenant (SB) RCNVR (With seniority dated 14/06/1943).

In 1943 he served in HMCS Cornwallis.

In 1944 he served in HMCS Givenchy.

He was appointed as a Lieutenant (SB) (With seniority dated 14/06/1944).

In 1944 he served in HMCS Bytown for NSHQ, and various radio intelligence centres in Canada, US, Ceylon and Australia.

In 1944 he served in HMS Swiftsure for the relief of Hong Kong 08/1945 and HMCS Niobe. (He was released in 1947).

He was promoted to LCdr (SB) RCN(R) on the Retired List.

He was the first Canadian-born Chinese to join the Royal Canadian Navy and also the first person of Chinese descent to serve as an officer in any of the British Commonwealth navies.

In 1945, Mr. Lore was assigned as an intelligence staff officer for Radm Sir Cecil Harcourt, the commander of the fleet that sailed into Hong Kong harbour upon Japan’s surrender in August 1945. Then SLt Lore was the first officer ashore where he led a platoon of marines to take control of British Station His Majesty’s Ship Tamar, the shore base.

He subsequently led his troops to free the Canadian, British and Hong Kong prisoners from the Sham Shui Po Camp. SLt Lore was present during the official hand over of the colony and the surrender of the Japanese forces on September 16th, 1945 in Hong Kong.