While researching my great grandfather, John William Mitchell born in Lopen, Somerset and baptised on 28 August 1864, I have come across two military records on FindMyPast with similar references on FamilySearch. My question is - how can I be sure that these records relate to my great grandfather? The middle name does not appear on these documents, but the birth place and year seem to match.
Also I don't quite understand what the documents mean. The first one appears to be where he has signed up for service in 1882 for 6 years with the 3rd Battalion P A Somerset Light Infantry, then in 1883 there is a similar document with the same name and birth details signing up for 12 years with Prince Albert's (Somersetshire Light Infantry) - 13th Foot.
Even more confusing is that I have also found him on the 1881 Census serving as an ordinary seaman on the vessel Mellona registered in Gravesend. I have assumed that he was in the Merchant Navy but have been unable to find anything to support this, other than the census.
I cannot find any other John (William) Mitchell born in Lopen in 1864 so it would appear that all of these records belong to the same person. I would be grateful if someone who has knowledge of these matters could advise whether it is likely to be the same person and, if so, how would he have been in the navy as well as the somerset light infantry?
He married late in 1884 then moved to Wales where he died a few years later in 1891, aged 27.
Thanks in anticipation
Cherryl