Simonstown Royal Navy Enlist Dog Just Nuisance

simonstownrealt... The other story about the famous Simonstown dog.
Hi
My name is Just Nuisance you can call me Just Nuisance Junior. I was asked by Just Nuisance let's call him Just Nuisance Senior to come down and spread the message. He wants me to tell you more about him, Just Nuisance the Navy dog. But he also wants me to tell the true reason why dogs exist -- to share Love.
As you may already know Just Nuisance Senior was the only dog ever to be officially enlisted in the Royal Navy. Dog loving people wanted to protect him as "others" wanted to ban him from riding his favourite trains in and around Simon's Town. He was the Great Dane who from 1939 to 1944 served at HMS Afrikander, a Royal Navy shore establishment in Simon's Town, South Africa. This proud Great Dane died in 1944 and was buried with full military honours.
Humans speculate about Just Nuisance Senior's exact birth date. It may be 1 April 1937 in a suburb of Cape Town. Benjamin Chaney tried to be the owner of a normal pet but Just Nuisance Senior had other plans. He spends lots of time at the naval base and became popular amongst the sailors. He shared his love in return for fun and food at the naval base and dockyards. When not entertaining he would sleep on the decks of ships. This huge Great Dane presented a sizable nuisance for those trying to board or disembarks.
That he injured his tail and wagged blood over his friends is the BBC story of how he got his name and it might be true but we all prefer the sailors version that he got his name Just Nuisance because he was always in the way and therefore a real nuisance.
My heavenly friend Just Nuisance was allowed freedom, he followed the sailors where ever they went and loved to take train trips as far a field as Cape Town, 35 km away. Not all conductors liked this big Great Dane on their trains and he was more than often kicked of the trains. This did not cause him any problems, as he would only wait for the next train to come along or he would simply walk to the next station where he would board the first train to come along.
Amused travelers would occasionally offer to pay his fares, but the railway company eventually warned Chaney that Just Nuisance would have to be put down unless he was kept under control. He was to be kept off the trains or pay the full fare.
Unconditional love is when sailors will do anything in their power to safe their fun and loving four legged friend when other people threaten to kill him. The Navy decided on clemency and officially enlisted Just Nuisance as a morale booster, for the troops serving in World War Two. This qualified him for free rail travel. He was enlisted on 25 August 1939: under the surname "Nuisance" and he was christened "Just", the "Bone Crusher", the religious "Canine Divinity League".
People today believe that Just Nuisance Senior never went out to sea and only fulfilled his role ashore. He accompanied sailors on train journeys, and escorted them back when the pubs closed. Just Nuisance Senior conducted navy duties of his own choosing; he was a marketer for dogs and even promoted his own "wedding" to Great Dane, Adinda. They had five pups, two of which were auctioned off in Cape Town by humans to raise funds for the War effort. Can you believe this?
Just Nuisance Senior said that people say his service was not exemplary. Ok. He did travel on trains without his free pass, he went absent without leave, he lost his collar and he refused to leave the pub at closing time, apparently he was sentenced to have all bones removed for seven days for sleeping in an improper place. Just Nuisance Senior asked me to never agree to any of these unjust allegations.
Just Nuisance Senior knew he was a nuisance and always in the way but .........he never thought humans driving cars would not see him. And one day it happened. He was struck by a car and the injuries sustained gradually paralyzed him. On 1 January 1944 he was discharged from the Navy while his condition continued to deteriorate; on 1 April 1944 he was taken to Simon's Town Naval Hospital where naval veterinary surgeon decided to put him to sleep.
His body was draped with a Royal Naval White En-sign, and he was buried with full naval honors, including a gun salute, and the playing of the Last Post. Today a simple granite headstone marks his grave, but a statue was erected in Jubilee Square in Simon's Town to celebrate his life.
Just Nuisance Senior taught me to celebrate life, to celebrate the unconditional dog love and to share and celebrate it with humans.
We love you ......... Just Nuisance Senior
You are a true dog and you truly shared your love.
Just Nuisance Junior
Simon's Town South Africa

[@twillick]

Able Seaman Just Nuisance is even remembered in my home province of Newfoundland, Canada. John A. Bromley, Royal Navy, left a record of his life and service.
He was the only non-human to be given rank and a military ID card so he could travel on the train with fellow enlisted seamen.
He was much loved by his fellow navy mates who fed him pork rinds and beer.
He was given full military honors at his funeral and was greatly missed by those who knew him.

[@kingeiko]

This dog is really great. Just saw his story on TV. Greetings from Tom in Austria

[@whps60]

Nothing wrong with easy! Nice posting. Brought back memories of my national service, most of them good now encrusted with the patina of age. Thanks.

[@cornholio1962]

my grand father pat kealy; stationed simons stadt during the war at the naval hospital..bet he new this dog!!! rip grandad chief petty oficer rn x

[@whps60]

I served in the SAN and remember the legend of Just Nuisance very well. It is mildly unfortunate that the antropomorphic voice of the dog comes with an American accent, for surely, had he spoken, he would have had a Cape/ South African accent?

[@wesselwinter7420]

sum say it feels as if he walks in the base. do any of you think so?