Signalman Jacob Sorsky

Jacob Sorsky was born on 3 August 1926 in Liverpool Maternity Hospital, Liverpool, England, to Dora (née Goss) and Maurice Sorsky. He was a member of the Jewish Lad's Brigade in Liverpool at the time of the outbreak of the Second World War. According to the Sorsky family, Jacob ran away from home in 1940 and, using the name "T Drummond", was taken aboard MV Armadale as a galley boy.

Sorsky later ended up in Melbourne where, on 14 October 1941, he enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force. He gave his name as "James Terence Drummond" and claimed to be a 21-year-old labourer from Liverpool, England. He also recorded his "Aunt", a "Mrs Sorsky" of 64 Grierson Street, Lodge Lane, Liverpool, as his next of kin; the address was actually Sorsky’s parents' home.

Sorsky completed his initial training at the Recruit Reserve Depot, Royal Park, before being allocated to the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. Following service training at the Signal Training Depot in Bonegilla, he was posted to Army Headquarters Signals from 27 January 1942, with which he served as a military despatch rider.

Sorsky was riding his motorcycle through Deepdene, Melbourne, on 23 March 1942 when he collided with a bus at the intersection of White Horse and Barnsbury Roads. He was taken to the 115th Australian General Hospital, Heidelberg, having sustained severe fractures to his head and thigh. Sorsky died from his injuries two days later and was buried in Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne.