 Tickler was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Great Grimsby at a by-election in May 1914 following the death of the Conservative MP Sir George Doughty.Doughty had held the seat for almost 20 years, with a short break in 1910.In 1878 he married his childhood companion, Frances Wells, second daughter of W. T. Wells, of The Hall, Withern.