Florence Zikking was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, on the 14th February 1871, the son of John and Abigail (Abby) Zikking. The family home was at 65. Shelley Street, Bootle, Liverpool.
Florence was a professional seaman in the British Mercantile Marine and he signed on as a Bosun’s Mate in the Deck Department on board the
Lusitania at Liverpool and reported for duty on the morning of 17th May, before she left for her final voyage to New York.
He survived the sinking three weeks later and having been rescued from the sea, he was taken to Queenstown before eventually being repatriated to Liverpool. In August 1915, he was paid the balance of wages owing to him, his official discharge from the vessel being counted as effective from the morning after the sinking.
On the 19th May 1915, Florence enlisted as a private in the 7th Bn. Kings (Liverpool) Regiment, however, he was medically discharged on the 18th October 1916 as he was deemed to be medically unfit due to sickness.
Florence Zikking continued to serve in the British Mercantile Marine for many years following his ordeal and died in Liverpool on the 11th June 1948, aged 77 years.
Cunard and some other records show the spelling of his surname as being
Sikking, but Zikking was his correct name.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1871 Census of England and Wales, 1891 Census of England and Wales, 1901 Census of England and Wales, Cunard Records.