"Sacred to the memory of / WILLIAM SHIELD esquire / master of His Majesty's band of music / who died January 25th 1829 / aged 80 years / and is buried in Westminster Abbey / This gentleman's name[,] independent / of his high character and virtues / in private life[,] has a claim to be enroll'd / amongst the most eminent musical / composers that have hitherto prov'd / an ornament to the British nation / John Fuller of Rose Hill Esq, DDD". It is presumed that the words, "and is buried in Westminster Abbey" were inserted. DDD is an abbreviation for the Latin "Dat, Dicat, Dedicat" which can be translated to "Gives, Devotes and Dedicates".