Royal Irish Fusiliers Casualty - by: Metford

Hello everyone.

I would like to ask Forum members if they would share their knowledge to help me understand some of the conflicting information I see when looking at records of those men who became casualties. I posed something similar previously, but this enquiry relates to an individuals rank which differs between sources. Any help or advice will be most welcome.

The individual is: 4004 Private J. Fox, Royal Irish Fusiliers.

I searched the Forum data base and came up with the following three hits.

Fox J 4004 Private 1st Btn. Killed at Reit Vlei. 16 Jul 1900.
Source: Natal Field Force Casualty Roll, page 177 line 25 (Princess Victoria's) Royal Irish Fusiliers

Fox J 4004 Private 2nd Battalion
Source: QSA roll (Princess Victoria's) Royal Irish Fusiliers

Fox J 4004 Sergeant 2nd Battalion
Demise: Killed in action 16 Jul 1900
Place: Rietvlei
Source: In Memoriam by S Watt (Princess Victoria's) Royal Irish

My question is this.
On the Natal Roll he is shown as “Killed” with the 1st Battalion as a Private.
The QSA roll at the National Archives records him as Private, 2nd Battalion, “Deceased”.
The entry taken from In Memoriam by S. Watt gives his rank as Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, Killed in Action.

So why is he shown as both Private and Sergeant. And either 1st or 2nd Battalion?
The bars on the medal roll indicate service with the 2nd Battalion.

Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards, Malcolm.