Just Nuisance Great Dane Royal Navy

The only dog to be formally enlisted in the Royal Navy was a Great Dane named Just Nuisance. Born in 1937 in Rondebosch to Benjamin Cheney, he later moved with his owner to Simon’s Town. There he grew familiar with the navy and developed a habit of boarding trains. This upset the railway authorities, who requested to have him put down unless his owner could do something about it. The navy heard about this and stepped in to help by formally enlisting him.

From 1940 to 1944 Just Nuisance served aboard HMS Afrikander. His career ended abruptly when he was struck by a car and died in 1944, aged seven. He was buried with naval honors on the hillside above Simon’s Town, where his grave remains.