The annual Just Nuisance Commemoration Day parade saw pooches of all sizes put their best paw forward.
The event, which was held in Simon’s Town on Saturday 1 April, is an annual walk to remember the only dog yet to be officially enlisted in the royal navy.
A Great Dane named Just Nuisance served in the royal navy between 1939 and 1944 in Simon’s Town.
Simon Metcalfe, chair of the Simon’s Town Civic Association and MC at the event on Saturday, says the highlight of the day was meeting a resident who, as a child, had travelled on the train with Just Nuisance.
“One of my highlights as Master of Ceremonies for the Just Nuisance Commemoration Day Parade was to meet Juliet Bass.
“I had the chance to interview her on the day and also follow up with her afterwards. As a 12-year-old, she sometimes travelled on the train with Just Nuisance on her way to piano lessons in Rondebosch.
“She recalled seeing the giant Great Dane, Able Seaman JN, lounging across three seats with his honourary sailor’s rail ticket attached to his collar.”
He adds that in 1944, Bass had witnessed the funeral of Just Nuisance and the casket, which was draped in the Royal Navy White Ensign, pulled on a gun carriage along Simon’s Town’s St Georges Street.
“Just Nuisance was then taken to the top of Red Hill where the South African Navy Signal School now sits.
“His final farewell included a firing party of royal marines and a bugler. A granite gravestone on Red Hill was erected in his honour. To this day it is well maintained.”
Metcalfe adds that the piano lessons Bass had taken paid off.
“The day after this year’s Just Nuisance ceremony, she played the famous Hill Organ on Palm Sunday at St Francis Anglican Church in Simon’s Town.
“Juliet has many stories to tell about Simon’s Town and wishes funds could be raised to restore the Hill Organ to the pristine state such an antique treasure deserves.”
