Just a Nuisance!

Just Nuisance with his sailor friends.

“You’re just a nuisance!” sailors would exclaim, as they tried to step over him or around him. The Great Dane would lie on the deck, his large body spread across the top of the gangplank, making it difficult for the sailors to board their ship. Just Nuisance didn’t care. He didn’t move. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the attention.

Born in 1937, Just Nuisance lived in Simon’s Town, South Africa, home of the Royal Navy (now the South African Navy). He befriended the sailors, who would often give him treats and take him for a run on one of the local beaches. He would follow them around the navy yard, onto the ships in port, into town, and even on the train into the city of Cape Town.

Just Nuisance kept the sailors company, but sometimes got himself into trouble.

That’s where he got himself into real trouble. The ticket collectors on the train would get angry with the sailors for bringing a dog onboard, and would make Just Nuisance get off. But the dog would just sneak onto another train carriage and meet his sailor friends at their favorite gathering spot in the city. Since Simon’s Town and Cape Town were at the end of the rail lines, Just Nuisance knew when to get off the train.

At one point, the train company got so fed up with Just Nuisance, that they threatened to have him “put to sleep” if the dog continued to ride the train. The sailors offered to pay his passage, but the railway officials said no. This upset many people who wrote to the Commander-in-Chief of the navy.

Able Seaman Just Nuisance with his Able Seamen friends.

The clever commander had an idea. Since World War II had begun by this time, he enrolled Just Nuisance into the navy as a “volunteer”. A sailor friend filled out the forms for him. Just Nuisance’s paw print was used for his signature. Like all new sailors, he was given a medical exam before it was announced that he was “fit to serve”. He was issued an official dog-tag to wear around his neck. As a volunteer in the navy, he had the right to free train travel!

 

Just Nuisance was supposed to wear this collar to ride the trains, but he often slipped it off.

In addition to providing companionship for the sailors, many of whom were far away from home, Just Nuisance made himself quite useful in other ways as well. Sometimes, when a sailor had been at a tavern in Simon’s Town until late at night, and he was so tired he was having difficulty walking home to his ship, Just Nuisance would lead him back to his ship. Sometimes, the sailors would get into a fight. Just Nuisance didn’t like that at all! He would break it up by getting between the two men. He would stand up on his hind legs, putting his huge front paws on the chest of one of the sailors, pushing him away until the two men stopped fighting.

 

A book about Just Nuisance was sold to raise money for the navy during World War II.

Just Nuisance was popular not only with the sailors, but with the public as well. His picture and story appeared in papers. A book was even written about him. His photograph was used on postcards, and other items that were sold to make money for the navy. He joined the other sailors in military parades. Soon, Just Nuisance was promoted from “Ordinary Seaman” to “Able Seaman,” and was given a special medal.

Sometimes Just Nuisance was naughty and got himself into trouble, like the time he sneaked into an officer’s room and was found fast asleep on his bed, his head resting oh so comfortably on his pillow! Also, more than once he got into a fight with another ship’s mascot

 

Just Nuisance at the military hospital.

In 1944, at the age of seven (that’s forty-nine in dog years), Just Nuisance developed Thrombosis, making it hard for him to walk. When life became too difficult for him, he was taken to the military hospital and put to sleep.

He was given a fine military funeral, with full honors, and buried on navy property on top of a hill overlooking his beloved naval shipyard.

Just Nuisance’s grave.

 

A statue of Just Nuisance now stands in the center of Simon’s Town to honor the dog who raised the morale of many sailors during a difficult time in history.

The statue of Just Nuisance stands in Simon’s Town, near the naval dockyard.

23 thoughts on “Just a Nuisance!

  1. Did he work as a salior dog? What was it like when they found out the dog had to be put to sleep? I hope your having a great time in south africa have fun!!

    • I’ve never met Just Nuisance. He lived a long time ago. I’ve just read the information about him at the local museum, in books, and at his gravesite.

  2. Did he work as a salior dog? What was it like when they found out the dog had to be put to sleep? I hope your having a great time in south africa have fun!!

    • I’ve never met Just Nuisance. He lived a long time ago. I’ve just read the information about him at the local museum, in books, and at his gravesite.

    • I think it was because Just Nuisance was such a friendly dog to the sailors who were lonely and far away from home. He was also a very smart dog and was helpful to the sailors. What do you think made him so special?

    • I think it was because Just Nuisance was such a friendly dog to the sailors who were lonely and far away from home. He was also a very smart dog and was helpful to the sailors. What do you think made him so special?

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