« Reply #4 on: Thursday 21 January 10 02:02 GMT (UK) »
Those attestation papers are not for the correct Thomas. I found his birth registration at Scotlands People and he was born 5 Dec 1876 in Coldstream, Berwickshire. On the registration his parents are listed as George Dickson, carter, coal line and Helen Matthews. Their marriage date is on the registration as well - 15 Jun 1870 in Edinburgh.
Thomas is on the 1881 and 1901 Scotland census in Coldstream living with his parents (his mother is listed as Ellen in 1881 and 1901 and as Helen in 1891). His occupation is listed as carter on the 1901 census.
Thomas likely won't be on the 1911 census. I believe I found his arrival under the name Thomas Dixon on the Virginian which departed from Liverpool and arrived in Quebec on 2 Jun 1911. He claimed to be 27 on the passenger list. His occupation is listed as being a carter and he was heading for Calgary. The passenger list does indirectly say he was born in England (ditto marks from an entry about 8 lines above the one he's on so it easily could be wrong). Here's a link to the passenger list at Library and Archives Canada (near the bottom of the page):
http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e143/e003570056.jpgJacquie
Canada: Patterson, Brown, Haidenger/Heidinger, Meyer, Johnston(e), Gorsuch, Kitchin/Kitchen
United States: Patterson, Smith, Brown, Vance, Bower(s), Newberry, Best, Love, Gorsuch
England (Northumberland): Brown, Whitfield, Henderson
Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife, East Lothian): Johnston(e), Bell, Galloway, Campbell, Robertson, Williamson, Thomson, Crawford
Germans from Russia: Haidenger/Heidinger, Meyer, Meach, Lorenz