|  "Just Nuisance", as the dog was to become known by, was by all accounts born on Thursday, 1st April 1937 in Rondebosch, a suburb in the South Peninsula of Cape Town.
He was a very friendly dog and as such was treated to all sorts of tidbits, pies and beer by the sailors who loved him and to whom the dog in turn took a great liking, especially as they would often take him for walks and as such, he considered that all sailors were his friends. He recognised his mates by their bell-bottom trousers and square blue collars - they all looked pretty much the same to him, so every sailor was his friend! Service men in a different type of uniform were normally given the 'by-pass'.
Just Nuisance would regularly follow the naval liberty men when they went for a "run-ashore" in Cape Town some 22 miles and 27 stations north on the electric railway, but he always knew which station he wanted. He soon became well known on the trains and would jump on and off at different stations.
Apparently, the sailors would try to hide him from the Ticket collector, but as he was such a big dog this was not always possible and he would be put off at the next station, but being a very clever dog, he would walk back to the previous station or just wait at the station in question and board the next train to continue his journey. A few times, when approached by an angry conductor, he showed how serious he was about rail travel by standing on his hind legs, putting his huge paws on the conductor's shoulders and growling in the poor man's face. Amused civilians would sometimes offer to pay his fare but exasperated railway officials sent a stream of demands to Mr. Chaney his owner to confine the dog, pay his fares, or get rid of him. The railways finally warned that they would have to put him down if he persisted in boarding trains. This resulted in a massive outcry from his sailor friends and other people in the Peninsula who had come to know him well. One amused regular passenger even offered to buy him a season ticket but the Royal Navy had already put this in hand...
Many letters were written to the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy at that time. After much thought he decided to enlist him into the Royal Navy! Not only would this brave act save Just Nuisance, it would also raise his profile almost overnight and certainly guarantee that he would become one of the worlds' most famous dogs.
On Friday, 25th August 1939, Just Nuisance was enlisted into the Royal Navy. He was given the Christian name of "Just", the Trade of "Bone Crusher" and his Religious Denomination as given as "Scrounger" (this was later upgraded to Canine Divinity League [Anti-Vivisection]).
All things considered, Just Nuisance was more than just a dog. He did much to boost the morale of all those involved in fighting the War from the South Atlantic Station and he was renowned for the love and care he showed for his sailor mates. However, Just Nuisance was no angel, as his "Conduct Sheet" shows. His Conduct Sheet, now in the Simon's Town Museum, shows three recorded offences:
* Traveling on the railways without a pass.
Punishment Awarded: Confined to the banks of Froggy Pond, Lily Pool, with all lamp posts removed.
* Did sleep in an improper place, namely in a bed in the Petty Officers' dormitory.
Punishment Awarded: Deprived of bones for seven days.
* Did resist ejection from the Sailors' & Soldiers' Home: No punishment awarded.
The life and story of Just Nuisance has become so much a part of Simon's Town - a statue on Jubilee Square reminds us of him and his grave on Red Hill is a regular stopping point for visitors. The Simon's Town Museum has in its collection all Just Nuisances' official papers, his collar and many photographs. A special display has been mounted in the Museum and a slide show giving the story of this famous dog is shown daily to children and tourists from all over the world.
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