Hi Rosie. I am replying to you because I have a very similar story to tell about my late father. He was known to me as Cyril Kenneth Addison,although I found him on a Norwegian merchant ship The Taranger via this site in 1941 listed as Cyril Addison.
(I believe that this was not his birth name,he always told me he was adopted & after his sudden death in 1988,at a reIatively young age,I found a change of name by deed poll certificate in 1960 to Cyril Kenneth Addison,renouncing the name of Cyril Bruckshaw. The reason I am replying to you is because,he too spent a lot of time in Canada & I believe he said he could have chosen British or Canadian nationality. I remember he told me he had been on several ships that were torpedoed,I know he was injured several times..he too had run away at a very young age from the childrens home (in Canada to which he was sent..though can find no records)...& lied about his age.I guess he must have joined the Norwegian merchant marines too as he was on the Taranger. There seems to be a lot of similarities between our stories? My father was born between 1922-1925 have found a variety of different years for his date of birth.I thought he was born in Manchester,but again,still not certain. When he died suddenly from a ruptured Aorta,my mother was already dying of cancer,she died within months of him at only 58 yrs old. I have no known family so I am still searching for clues & answers.There are some mysteries because having written to the Norwegian archives,they confirm that he was indeed on the Taranger when it was torpedoed in 1941 & he received some compensation. Yet they tell me that he should be listed on the register of seamen in the archive...but is not there,so some mystery around it all. They suggested I get in touch with the Norwegian resistance museum,which I am in the process of doing.
Do you have any other details or photos...the Norwegian archive were very helpful so it is worth writing to them.
As your brother & my father were of similar age & circumstances I will look out for him when uncovering any details during my research.
Good luck & keep in touch...Regards Tina.