A decorated soldier takes his own life “after receiving an order to return to the army” | UK news

The mother of a decorated soldier claims that her son would still be alive if he had not been “ordered” to return to the barracks.

Charlie Owen, 25, took his own life at Combermere Barracks in Windsor on September 11, 2023 – just six days after his previous attempt.

His grieving mother, Tracy Evans, stated that his condition improved after returning home on sick leave after the first attempt, but he was “ordered” to return to the barracks without sufficient explanation.

That evening, when he returned to Combermere, Charlie was “left alone” in his room and his body was found the next morning.

Following the inquest into Charlie’s death, Berkshire deputy coroner Robert Simpson said in a report into the prevention of future deaths that “not all relevant information was shared and taken into account in planning for his return”.

He raised concerns that the British Army was not providing mandatory suicide prevention training for army welfare officers and non-commissioned officers, and said the army should take action to prevent future deaths.

Tracy said Charlie had “checked out” after he was ordered to return to base from the family home in Meidrim, Wales.

“Charlie’s death was completely avoidable. He should never have been called back to the camp in the condition he was in,” she said.

“If he hadn’t done it, he wouldn’t have done it – that’s what the whole family believes.

“The only reason he stopped trying to commit suicide was because of his family. I know he wouldn’t have done this if he had stayed with us.

“They completely ignored it, even though they knew he would probably try again if he was forced to return.

“Even when he left the house, he took one last look at me and I think now he knew he wouldn’t see me again. He never said goodbye like he usually did.

We knew from his behavior that he had lost hope. We tried to say that if you came back, maybe they would just discharge you and send you straight home, but that was a formality.

We didn’t know he was going back to work, otherwise we would never have let him go.

“He wasn’t told it was about an assessment or anything like that. They did not contact each other to say that he was doing anything other than work.

Charlie, a corporal in the Welsh Guards, served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before his mental health began to deteriorate in August 2023.

Earlier this month, coroner Robert Simpson made the decision to recall the soldier back to the army after his failed suicide attempts, combined with a failure to properly assess and manage the risk of self-harm “could likely have contributed to his death”.

The decorated soldier, who was awarded the King’s Coronation Medal and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for his service during tours in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, wanted to leave the army for a while, his mother said.

Chalie was first deployed to Afghanistan when he was just 18 years old.

Tracy added: “He was only 18 and came from a small, quiet village where nothing was going on, and then he immediately falls into something like this. He didn’t really experience anything.

“It was a really big deal for a young boy who lived in the countryside and had to grow up fast. He once told me that a bomb had exploded in the camp and he tried to ignore it, but I know it scares Charlie.

“I knew the way he said it scared him. I was a nervous wreck the entire time he was there.

“It was only after his second trip to Iraq that we all noticed a marked difference. From then on, he wasn’t Charlie at all.

Charlie returned from a tour of Iraq in August 2023.

“He’s hated everything about the military for the past few years and his situation has been getting worse and worse,” Tracy said.

“There must have been something that triggered it. I don’t know if he came from an Afghan, but his health was slowly and gradually weakening.

Every time he came home he said it was getting worse and he just desperately wanted to leave.

“Many were leaving and one of his really close friends committed suicide. It really affected him and hit him hard.

Tracy said he had filled out a termination form just before his death but felt he couldn’t leave because there weren’t enough corporals, adding that Charlie “felt trapped.”

Charlie met with an army doctor shortly after taking part in training exercises before going to America and returning home on leave.

Tracy said: “The doctor was fantastic and really believed in him, but then it all went wrong because the army didn’t support him.

“He came home and the doctor told Charlie the military wasn’t the best place for him. He thought he would be released from health care and stay home.

“He was a different person and it was like the old Charlie came back when he thought he was leaving and not coming back to camp.

“It was like someone turned on a light bulb – he was so happy, he had a glimmer of hope and he thought that finally someone believed him and wanted to help.

“Then the nurse who assessed him called him and he said, ‘she doesn’t believe me and is telling me to go back to work.’

“He got massively worse and there was a noticeable change in him – he hadn’t eaten since that phone call.

“We called the colonel and he simply said it was none of his business and there was nothing he could do. He said that a military doctor would now take care of him.

Tracy is calling for military personnel to receive better suicide prevention training.

She explained: “They have to be trained to look for the signs – they don’t know what the signs are. Charlie was good at hiding, but it was noticeable.

“I am furious with the army – the way they acted was absurd and they are definitely to blame for his death.

“It was a terrible time and I still haven’t returned to work. It was simply devastating and affected the entire family.

“I know Charlie was an adult, but at the same time he was vulnerable and I don’t think he got the support he needed.”

An Army spokesman said: “Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the family and friends of Corporal Charlie Owen at this sad and difficult time.

“Charlie served his country with pride and dedication, and we are aware of the profound impact his loss has had – and continues to have – on his loved ones and his many military friends and colleagues.

“We acknowledge and respect the findings of the deputy coroner in Berkshire and will ensure that any failings identified are thoroughly assessed.”

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