November 1945
to
January 1946
John volunteers to stay on after the disbandment of 158th Company and transfers to 956th Railway Survey Company based in Essen, Germany, assisting with the clear up at the site of the Krupps works. The Krupps factory was the principal supplier of arms to German forces,  and used Slave Labour from the concentration camps - the slaves were kept in horrific conditions similar to those at the death camps.

In January 1946 John was released from the Army and made his way home to Hankerton.

Over 60 million people died during World War 2. More than 20 million military personnel never made their way back home.