George Edward Lickfold was born on 24 October 1881 one of the six children of John Hollis Lickfold (1848-1891) and Eliza Lickfold (circa 1842-1933). His birth was registered as George Edwin Lickfold in the 4th quarter of 1881 in the Kensington Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London).
He attended Fox School, Silver Street (now renamed Kensington Church Street), Kensington, from 3 May 1886 until 19 February 1895 when he left to start work and the admission register confirmed his address had been 36 Dartmoor Street, Kensington (later renamed as Hillgate Place).
The 1891 census shows him as George E. Lickfold, aged 9 years and a scholar, living with his parents and two siblings: William John Hollis Lickfold (1876-1934) and Albert Edwin Lickfold (1884-1951) in 2 rooms at 36 Dartmoor Street, Kensington.
In 1899 he enlisted in the Devonshire Regiment, service number 5761 using the name of George Edward Lickfold.
On 26 February 1910 using his correct name of George Edwin Lickfold, he was appointed as a Postman in the London Postal Service, South West, on a pay scale of 19 shillings to 35 shillings per week.
When his mother completed her 1911 census return form she showed her son as George Lickford, aged 29 years, single and a G.P.O. postman living in two rooms at 13 Farmer Street, West Kensington with her and a his nephew, Samuel Poole, aged 14 years and scholar, She described herself as aged 66 years who had been born in Bradford, Somerset, a widow who had given birth to 6 children of which 5 were still alive.
Electoral registers in 1911 and 1912 show him as George Edwin Farmer renting one unfurnished room on the top floor of 13 Farmer Street, Kensington, from his mother at the 'rate of 10 shillings per week sometime more (part board)'.
In September 1911 he was transferred as a Postman to the London Western District Office.
On the outbreak of World War One he was recalled to his old regiment as George Edward Lickfold, still using his 5761 service number and entered France on 12 September 1914. He was killed in action, whilst serving in the regiment's 1st Battalion on 12 April 1915 at Oosthoek, Belgium, aged 33 years and was originally buried in the Bedford House Cemetery (Enclosure No.5), Zillebeke, Belgium, but after the armistice his body was exhumed and was , in the Aeroplane Cemetery, Zonnebeekseweg, 8900 Ieper, Belgium.
Royal Mail Pension Records show him as 'George Edwin Lickfold (otherwise George Edward Lickfold)' and that on 31 May 1915 they sent his mother his £89-12s-6d gratuity for his 5 years and 1 months service in the Post Office. Probate records show him as George Edward Lickfold of 13 Farmer Street, Notting Hill Gate and that when administration of his estate was granted to his mother on 24 August 1915 his effects totalled £124-8s-0d. On 1 September 1915 his army effects that totalled £13-3s-8d were distributed four-ways equally at £3-5s-11d to his mother and three siblings: Albert Edwin Lickfold; William John Hollis Lickfold and Elizabeth Emily Lickfold (1872-1963). His mother was sent his £5-0s-0d war gratuity on 27 July 1919.
He was posthumously awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'LICKFOLD, G. E.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the , on the , on the and incorrectly as 'Lickford G.E.' on .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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