Just Nuisance, AB: His full story

by Terence Sisson

This is the remarkable life-story of one of the most famous Great Danes of all time. Able Seaman Just Nuisance was formally inducted into the Royal Navy at Simon's Town in August 1939, shortly before the outbreak of World War II, and his exploits during the war made him a legend in his lifetime. More than 40 years after his death and burial with naval honours at Simon's Town, the legend lives on and many thousands of people in many parts of the world still remember Nuisance with affection. He was the friend and companion of sailors who called at the Cape in the war years, and he was a much-loved citizen of Greater Cape Town. Stories about this unique Great Dane are legion, some of them factual, others apocryphal. In this absorbing and amusing book Terence Sisson records his personal experiences and those of others who were fortunate enough to become close chums of the canine AB.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography

152 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 1986

About the author

Terence Sisson lived in Nottingham, England. An innkeeper's son, he volunteered for service with the Royal Navy's elite Fleet Air Arm at the age of 17 on the day after World War II broke out. He served with the FAA in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Far East and it was when, in 1942, he was posted to what he terms "Paradise" - the Royal Naval Air station at Wingfield, Cape - that he met and befriended Able Seaman Just Nuisance. On the 40th anniversary of Nuisance's death Sisson decided to write a book about his canine "oppo" as a personal tribute to this unique Great Dane.

Reviews

[Heidi Wiechert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a biography about a very special dog, Just Nuisance, the only dog in history to be enlisted in the Royal Navy.

He was a great dane who befriended the sailors around the port of Simon's Town, South Africa, in the days before the outbreak of the Second World War. The sailors fed the enormous dog and even gave him portions of their lager. In turn, he guided drunken sailors home and protected them from any ruffians on the street.

Just Nuisance received his name because he loved to fall asleep on the gangplanks leading to the decks and so the sailors would have to choose another way to board the ship, because they couldn't move the enormous animal. So, they called him, "Nuisance," as well as a variety of other colorful adjectives.

He was enlisted in the navy because Just Nuisance was causing an issue on the train. He liked the ride the train to and fro with the sailors, but the officials running the line said the great dane was taking up a space that could be filled by paying passengers. They threatened to put Just Nuisance down if the sailors couldn't keep him off the train.

However, sailors in the Royal Navy were allowed to ride the train for free. So, they came up with a creative solution to their problem. Just Nuisance would join their ranks and be issued a pass. Then he too could ride the train for free.

And so he was.

"The first problem arose when it came to filling in the heading listed as Christian Name. ... "No dog has a Christian name, what the hell should I put here?" ... "Well I can't see any other way out than to leave it blank and give the name as just Nuisance." The petty officer looked at the lieutenant with a broad smile on his face: "That's it, sir, his Christian name, write 'Just' in that column." pg 26

This is a very sweet book. It is composed of the reminiscences of sailors who served with the great dane and shares how he affected each of their lives. He had a prodigious appetite, multiple "wives," and took his service in the navy seriously, showing up at fundraisers and participating in parades.

But his broader legacy, how he raised the spirits of the men of the Royal Navy prior to one of humankind's darkest sagas, deserves to be remembered.

I recommend this biography for readers who like small, forgotten moments of history and enjoy reading about the extraordinary way our canine companions can make our lives so much better.

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up I remember watching the story of the larger than life dog swerving in the navy. The book is a feel-good and quick read filled with all the tales of mischief and adventure that Nuisance had with all his "oppos" around the Cape.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful read for dog lover and Great Dane fans in particular, about a wonderful animal Able Seaman Just Nuisance formally inducted into the Royal Navy, just before the outbreak of World War II in august 1939. his exploits during the war made him a legend in and around Simonstown, Cape, South Africa.

Absolutely loved by the sailors in the Royal Navy, British ships docking in the Cape as the Axis control of the Mediterranean at the time made shipping there by Allied vessels not possible and Simonstown being an important port. Many wonderful stories of Nuisance's two marriages to female Great Danes, his boarding of trains through the area. Anecdotes such as his accepting a dance at a sailor's function from a young lady and his relations with other dogs and people. A Great Dane of eminent intelligence and character the book is beautiful heartwarming and amusing, a lovely addition to the annals of the Allied effort in World War II and to dogdom.
His passing at the end brought a tear to my eye.
A simple granite headstone marks his grave, which is on the top of the hill at Klawer, at the former SA Navy Signal School. A statue was erected in Jubilee Square in Simon's Town to commemorate his life.
The Simon's Town Museum has an exhibition dedicated to his story and since 2000 there has been an annual parade of Great Danes from which a look alike is selected

[Ilze · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book and you enter the world of oppos, matelots, sprogs, killicks ... all "members of the cloth" (don't you just love the jargon??!). I've been to Simon's Town on several occasions and also visited the tiny museum set up in Nuisance's memory - and that he was memorable cannot be denied! Though one does wonder what happens to an adult man's brain during times of war - so much anthropomorphism! I mean, they dress the dog up, take it to 'court' (with documentation), they feed it alcohol to the extent of drunkeness ... I shake my head. Perhaps Sisson's account is a bit closer to the ground, but some of the other tales related do make you wonder. That said, any dog owner - any Great Dane owner - will relate reems of amazing tales to you about this special canine breed. As Di Johnson says, "There is no compliment too great for this giant breed. A Dane will become your friend and understand you with a sensitivity surpassing any human understanding" (underlining the 'human understanding' bit, because many of the sailors were amazed at the dog's intelligence). What higher accolade could be bestowed upon an animal than for him to become the only enlisted member of the Royal Navy? I'd say, if it was any other kind of animal (incl. a cat), those sailors wouldn't have had as much fun with it.

There he is ...

Go to https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ilze-b... to see the postcard(s) I made featuring Just Nuisance.

[Jill Kapot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book by Terence Sisson yesterday 1 October 2023. I laughed, got upset a bit, was left amazed, left bewildered, felt shocked, felt heartbroken and in the end I cried, I cried ALOT. But a beautiful book about an extraordinary very loyal dog who loved his "oppos" and loved Sisson very much too. A must read for ALL animal lovers. (The message I took away - be loyal and love a dog wholeheartedly and that same dog will be extremely loyal to you!) That was the
advise and message from Benjamin Chaney to Sisson, Sisson who wanted to befriend Nuisance in the beginning.

[Elise Cilliers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I struggle to read non-fiction books, but this book was the easiest I’ve ever read. Maybe it’s because I’m a dog person, and maybe it’s because my dad used to do a lot of work in Simon’s Town when I was young and he told me stories about Nuisance that fascinated me. I loved this book and it was at times hilarious. A must read for any dog lover or anyone planning on visiting Simon’s Town and Cape Town.

[Delyse Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story about an unforgettable dog

[Amy Webster-Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good true story