Just Nuisance was the only dog ever to be officially enlisted in the Royal Navy. He was a Great Dane, who from 1939-44 served at HMS Afrikander, a Royal Navy shore establishment in Simon's Town, South Africa. Just Nuisance was entitled the same benefits as any other Able Seaman, which included a cap. Nuisance was involved in a car accident which had caused thrombosis to develop, and this was gradually paralysing him, so on 1 January 1944 he was discharged from the Navy. His condition continued to deteriorate and on 1 April 1944 he was taken to Simon's Town Naval Hospital where on the advice of the naval veterinary surgeon, he was put to sleep. The next day he was taken to Klaver Camp where his body was draped with a Royal Naval White Ensign and he was buried with full naval honours, including a gun salute and the playing of the Last Post.
A simple granite headstone marks his grave, but a statue was erected in Jubilee Square in Simon's Town to commemorate his life. The Simon's Town Museum has a room dedicated to his story, and since 2000 there has been an annual parade of Great Danes from which a lookalike is selected from South Africa.



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