Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles Heighton, a colliery worker, born 1857 in Arnesby, Leics., and his wife Sarah Jane Heighton, born 1859 in Loughborough, Leics. George Edward was a schoolboy and was born in 1886 in Whitwick, Leics., his siblings were, Mary A., a boot trade machinist, born 1881, Charles William, a carpenter, born 1885, Elizabeth, born 1887, James, born 1889, Jane, born 1892, John, born on the 28th July 1893 and Florence, born 1897, all his siblings were born in Whitwick, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Castle Street, Whitwick, Leics. In April 1911 George was employed as a packer and was residing in the family home at 30, Green Lane, Whitwick, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Charles, a quarry worker, James, a quarry worker, Jane a hosiery trade worker, John, an unemployed driller, Florence, a mother’s help, Thomas, a schoolboy, born 1903 and Alice, a schoolgirl, born 1905, the latter two siblings were both born in Whitwick, Leics. The family later resided at 44, Green Lane Whitwick, Leics. George’s younger brother John also fell.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday May 11th, 1917

Mr and Mrs Chas. Heighton, of 44, Green Lane, Whitwick, have been officially notified that their son, Private George E. Heighton, of the Machine Gun Corps, was killed in action on April 9th. He was a single man, 31 years of age, and immediately before the war was working at the Ibstock Colliery, though for many years he was employed Messrs. Stableford and Co’s Works at Coalville. He joined the army in January 1916, and had been in France nearly 12 months. His father is employed at the South Leicestershire Colliery. This is the second son that Mr and Mrs Heighton have lost in the war, the other being Able-Seaman John Heighton, of the Royal Naval Division, who was killed in action in France, on November 13th last year. He was a single man, 24 years of age, and before the war worked at the Whitwick Granite quarry. There are two other sons, and both are in the army serving in France.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 19/10/2017