Able Seaman Just Nuisance

Just Nuisance was a good natured Great Dane who lived in Simons Town, South Africa during the years of WWII.

Naturally he came into contact with the many sailors stationed at the naval base there and very quickly a mutual enjoyment of one another's company grew into a deep friendship between Nuisance and the seamen. The fact that the sailors kept Nuisance well supplied with pies and beer made no difference....

Nuisance accompanied his sailor mates, in their distinctive bell-bottoms and wide, square collars on long walks and then, notoriously, even further on the trains. In fact he grew so adept at traveling by train that whenever he was dumped off the train by a fastidious conductor, he simply waited for the next train home! The conductors didn't have it all their own way and at times Nuisance would turn the tables and intimidate the conductor by simply rearing onto his hind legs and plonking his great forepaws on the conductors shoulders. A deep growl into the face of the by then nervous conductor would conclude the negotiation.

As his bond developed with the sailors he took to manning the ships at port and developed the annoying habit of blocking passage on deck while he lay snoring in the sun. So grew his name as sailors claimed what a nuisance he was.

Unlike the sailors, the railway authorities finally grew tired of Nuisance and his free rides. They demanded that his owner keep him off the trains or they would take drastic steps. A huge public outcry followed their threat and private citizens even offered to buy Just Nuisance a season ticket. The Navy had other plans and decided to enlist Just Nuisance into the Royal Navy. This would entitle Nuisance to free train rides as an enlisted volunteer. In return Just Nuisance would assist in the war effort by lending his growing public presence to various functions. He even married and two of his pups were auctioned with the proceeds going to the war fund.

Back with his mates Nuisance took seriously the self appointed role of keeping the sailors out of trouble on the train home after a heavy night out on the town. A loud bark would ensure the slumbering seamen woke in time to stumble off at their stop and a strong shoulder under unsteady hand even brought sailors based at other stations into Simons Town to rest till morning.

He may have acted the guardian angel, but Just Nuisance was anything but an angel at times. This is reflected on his Royal Navy conduct sheet which shows several transgressions including going AWOL, losing navy property (his navy issued collar), sleeping in the officers dorm, failure to present his free boarding pass on the train and even resisting eviction from a bar at closing time! His most serious offences were causing the deaths of the mascots of both HMS Shropshire and HMS Redoubt.

Just Nuisance injured his leg in a motor car accident. This old injury would reappear as thrombosis. In January 1944, Just Nuisance was discharged from the Royal Navy.

In 1945 the war ended and the sailors and citizens of Cape Town celebrated. Able Seaman Just Nuisance missed the celebration though. The thrombosis had finally come back as paralysis robbing Nuisance of a quiet retirement and a joyous victory celebration with his sailor mates. Just Nuisance who had inspired the love and devotion of the allied sailors and people of Cape Town, passed away at the Simons Town Naval Hospital in 1944 just a few months after his discharge. He was laid to rest with full military honours on Signal Hill and as the echoes of the Royal Marines firing party salute faded a lone bugler played the Last Post.

A plain gravestone marks his grave, but Able Seaman Just Nuisance lives on in the history of Simons Town through his statue and spirit and continuous to guide weary sailors home.