If you stroll through Jubilee Square in the historic coastal village of Simon’s Town, South Africa, you’ll encounter a bronze statue of a massive Great Dane lounging casually, gazing out toward False Bay.
His name was Just Nuisance, and he wasn’t just any dog. During World War II, he became the first—and only—canine ever to be officially enlisted as an Able Seaman in the British Royal Navy.
Here is the unbelievable, endearing true story of Cape Town’s most legendary sea dog.
How a Great Dane Got His Name
Born in 1937, the Great Dane pup was bought by Benjamin Chaney, who moved to Simon’s Town to run the United Services Institute—a popular hangout for Royal Navy sailors stationed at the naval base.
The pup quickly took a shining to the sailors in their blue uniforms. They spoiled him with snacks, meat pies, and the occasional lap of beer. Standing nearly two meters (6.5 feet) tall on his hind legs, he grew into a giant, affectionate shadow that followed the sailors everywhere.
His favorite pastime? Napping in the sun right at the top of the narrow gangplanks of naval ships like HMS Neptune. Because he was too heavy to easily move, sailors trying to board or disembark had to awkwardly step over him, exasperatedly shouting:
“You’re just a nuisance, why do you have to lie here of all places?!”
The nickname stuck, and a legend was born.
The Train-Hopping Fare Dodger
Just Nuisance hated being left behind. When sailors took the electric train from Simon’s Town on leave into Cape Town—a 22-mile journey—Nuisance would board right alongside them.
He quickly mastered the art of train travel. He would sprawl across multiple seats or lie in the aisles. Whenever ticket inspectors tried to kick him off, sailors would attempt to hide the giant dog under their coats. If ejected at a station, Nuisance simply waited on the platform for the next train and hopped right back on.
Eventually, the state-owned South African Railways and Harbours official issued a stern ultimatum to his owner: Pay the dog’s train fares, keep him off the trains, or he will have to be put down.
Enlistment in the Royal Navy
The sailors were outraged. To save their beloved buddy, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy stepped in with a brilliant loophole: Enlist Nuisance into the military.
Because all enlisted service members during wartime were entitled to free pass travel on state railways, signing him up solved the ticket problem instantly. On August 25, 1939, the dog officially joined the Senior Service.
His Official Service File
- Full Name: Just Nuisance
- Rank: Ordinary Seaman (later promoted to Able Seaman to qualify for free rations)
- Trade / Occupation: Bone Crusher
- Religious Denomination: Scrounger (later amended to Canine Divinity League)
- Signature: A official paw print stamp
A Model Sailor? Not Quite!
Able Seaman Just Nuisance took his duties seriously. He escorted intoxicated sailors back safely to their bunks, broke up fights between men by rearing up and putting his huge paws on their chests, and attended war fundraising events (he even “married” another Great Dane named Adinda to raise money for naval charities).
However, his military conduct sheet shows he wasn’t always a pristine officer. Misdemeanors recorded on his rap sheet included:
- Travelling without his pass (he frequently slipped out of his custom collar).
- Sleeping in an improper place (specifically, commandeering a Petty Officer’s bed, resulting in a penalty of being deprived of bones for seven days).
- Refusing to leave pubs at closing time.
- Going AWOL for weekend jaunts.
A Final Salute
Tragically, after a car accident left him with thrombosis and progressing paralysis, Able Seaman Just Nuisance was honorably discharged from the Navy. On his 7th birthday—April 1, 1944—he passed away.
The next day, wrapped in a Royal Navy White Ensign, he was buried with full military honors at Klaver Camp on Red Hill above Simon’s Town. A firing party shot a volley over his grave, a bugler played The Last Post, and a naval signal announcing his death was broadcast to Royal Navy ships around the globe.
Visiting Simon’s Town Today
If you’re visiting the Cape Peninsula, paying homage to Able Seaman Just Nuisance is a must:
- Jubilee Square Statue: Take a photo with the life-sized bronze statue overlooking the harbour.
- Simon’s Town Museum: View his official enlistment papers, conductive rap sheet, original collar, and historical photos.
- His Grave at Red Hill: Hike up to Klaver Camp to visit his granite headstone overlooking the bay he loved so much.
