John McGinty was born in Ireland and moved to Paisley Scotland. During World War II he was enlisted into the Seaforth Highlanders and later volunteered for airborne forces.

He qualified as a military parachutist on  Course 113 which ran at RAF Ringway from 24 April to 7 May 1944 and subsequently served in No 5 Platoon, A Company, 156 Parachute Battalion.

John took part in the divisional airborne assault to capture the Rhine crossings at Arnhem, as part of Operation Market Garden. He made an opposed drop under enemy fire on the second day of the battle, 18 September 1944, and was wounded later in the battle.

With the medical facilities in German hands, he was taken as a prisoner of war and eventually held in Stalag XIB at Fallingbostel, until the camp was liberated by Allied Forces in Spring 1945.