My apologies Annette.
I have been somewhat occupied with a new job and family matters.
It does indeed appear that this Thomas is one and the same.
I am looking at his marriage certificate now and he has his father's name recorded as Thomas, and as a deceased labourer, in 1907. I have no explanation for the faked age other than it might be he was trying to leave something behind- pretty drastic to join the RN at the age he did, give a fake name for his father and a fake age, too? I am bamboozled.
Keyboard86, Osprey, Trish and Annette I am so very grateful to all of you. Time to do some re-evaluating on the family tree. This does explain a potential American connection though. I am completely flabbergasted.