When berthed at Simon's Town, I remember getting leave to go ashore with the intention of visiting Cape Town for the day. I noticed this gigantic Great Dane getting aboard the train completely unattended. I also noticed that he always got aboard the first class carriages! Furthermore, if all the seats were occupied, it selected a seat, and with its head, pushed all the occupants off the seat on to the floor and then calmly climbed on and stretched out full length. None of the sailors were in the least upset - in fact it used to be a big laugh!

When the dog got off at Cape Town, it used to go around all the pubs (prior to the last train leaving) and bark at the sailors until they headed for the station in order to catch the 11pm train. I always wondered if you traced the owner? Also, where did he live and who fed him? (The dog, not the owner). I often saw the dog wandering about on the quayside too.

I remember staying at the home of Commander Wilson and his wife at their fruit farm at Paarl, he was in charge of routing the shipping from Simonstown. I wonder what happened to him?