GPS: 26 degrees 13 minutes 18.4 seconds South, 28 degrees 16 minutes 31.36 seconds East (Cemetery)
The grave is inscribed
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN FRANCIS DAVID SHAUL V.C. M.S.M. DIED 18 SEPTEMBER 1953 AGED 80 YEARS REST IN PEACE
The VC Citation recorded in the London Gazette of 28 September 1900, Issue: 27233, Page: 5966, reads:
"Highland Light Infantry, Corporal J. Shaul
On the 11th December 1899, during the Battle of Magersfontein, Corporal Shaul was observed (not only by the Officers of his own Battalion but by several Officers of other regiments) to perform several specific acts of bravery. Corporal Shaul was in charge of stretcher bearers; but at one period of the battle, he was seen encouraging men to advance across the open. He was most conspicuous during the day in dressing men's wounds, and in one case he came, under a heavy fire, to a man who was lying wounded in the back, and, with the utmost coolness and deliberation, sat down beside the wounded man and proceeded to dress his wound. Having done this, he got up and went quietly to another part of the field. This act of gallantry was performed under a continuous and heavy fire as coolly and quietly as if there had been no enemy near."
Shaul served in the First World War as Staff Sergeant in the 5th South African Infantry, 2nd Brigade under Colonel JJ Byron from 21 December 1915 to 3 May 1916 when he returned to South Africa on the Hospital Ship Ebani. After about three months recuperative leave he was found medically unfit and discharged on 9 November 1916 at Potchefstroom. His service had been in East Africa, where he had initially been at Mbuyuni. Between 14 February 1916 and 20 October 1916, he had been in various hospitals - in East Africa until 19 April and then Durban and Wynberg until after his discharge. He had served 336 days and his military character was described as 'very good'.
He moved to South Africa in 1910 working for East Rand Proprietary Mines as a clerk. He enlisted with the Imperial Light Horse and served as Bandmaster with the Boksburg Military Band for 27 years after its founding in 1912. He was also Bandmaster of the Boksburg Brass Band for 36 years. He retired from the mine in 1948. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) in 1946.
His son, Lieutenant Thomas James Shaul, died on service in September 1940 while serving with the South African Medical Corps.