George William Norfolk was born to parents George William and Eliza Norfolk in Stepney, London in late 1871. He was baptised on 4 February 1872 and grew up and was educated in England. In his early adulthood, he became an electrician and moved to Australia. George William Norfolk married Margaret Gilfillan Graham in Sydney, New South Wales in 1895. He spent several years working as a marine engineer for the Orient Company, and eventually settled with his wife in Newcastle. In 1912, Norfolk was appointed officer in charge of supplying power to the coal-loading appliances in Newcastle, and then became employed by the New South Wales railway service as an electrical inspector.

Norfolk enlisted for the Australian Imperial Force on 11 February 1916. On 20 February 1916, he embarked for the Western Front on the HMAT Ulysses. He was taken on strength to the mining Corps Number 3 Company as a sapper. Norfolk transferred to the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Unit in October 1916 and quickly rose through the ranks, being promoted to Sergeant on 7 October 1916. He was then commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 14 October 1916, and then as a Lieutenant on 17 April 1917. George William Norfolk served with the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Unit for the rest of the war, assisting with the work of bringing and maintaining electricity to the trenches and mines of the Western Front, particularly in the area around Ypres. George William Norfolk was awarded a military cross for distinguished service at Messines (gazetted 1 January 1918), and, after a period of leave, returned to Australia aboard the "Ormond" on 16 June 1919.

After his return to Australia, George William Norfolk settled back in Newcastle with his wife and continued his work as an electrical engineer. Norfolk was a very talented administrator, and became the District Electrical Superintendent for the Railway Department in 1924. He played a large role in the electrification of Newcastle tramways and the development of many big power installations north of Sydney. After a six month illness, George William Norfolk died at Mater Misericordiae Hospital on 28 October 1931 at the age of 59. Several hundred mourners attended this funeral, and "The Last Post' was sounded at his graveside. George William Norfolk was buried in Sandgate Cemetery.