John Francis McSorley was the son of Patrick and Mary McSorley, of Gortin, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, he enlisted in the Royal Artillery and volunteered for airborne forces.

Private McSorley successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 88, from 18 to 30 October 1943. His course report stated “Quiet and sincere, confident parachutist”. He was posted to Attack Platoon, 9th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operation Overlord (Normandy).

Pte McSorley was killed whilst attacking tanks with a PIAT on 12 June 1944, age 27, and was given a field burial at Breville and was re-interred to Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France, on 2 July 1945.