George William Keightley was the son of Fred Cliffe and Alice Ann (Johnson) Keightley. He enlisted in the Lincolnshire Regiment and volunteered for airborne forces.

His brother, Sgt John Cliffe Keightley No. 1202833 RAFVR also served and was killed in action on 26 September 1942.

Corporal Keightley successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 109 from 23 July to 7 August 1943. His course report stated “Enthusiastic and interested. Needs more control”. He was posted to B Company, 8 Battalion, Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps, and took part in Operation Overlord (D day landings).

Cpl Keightly was killed in action on 13 June 1944, aged 27, and is commemorated on the Bayeux Memorial to the missing.