The grieving mother of Lance Corporal Charlie Owen, a decorated soldier who took his own life on September 11, 2023, at Combermere Barracks in Windsor, believes her son’s death was preventable.
Tracy Evans, his mother, claims that Charlie would still be alive had he not been ordered back to the barracks just days after a previous suicide attempt.
Charlie Owen, 25, was a lance corporal in the Welsh Guards who had served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.


He had been awarded the King’s Coronation Medal and Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for his distinguished service, which also included missions in Syria.
Despite his achievements, his mental health has been deteriorating since his return from Iraq in August 2023.
Tracy Evans described how her son’s mental health improved temporarily when he returned home on sick leave following a failed suicide attempt.

However, she believes his being ordered back to the barracks contributed significantly to his tragic death.
“He appeared completely disengaged after being ordered back to base,” she said. “Charlie’s death was entirely preventable.
He should never have been summoned back to camp in his current condition.”
According to his mother, Charlie’s return to Combermere Barracks was marked by inadequate support. On the night he returned, he was reportedly left alone in his room. His body was found the following day.
Berkshire Assistant Coroner Robert Simpson expressed similar concerns during the inquest. He stated in a Prevention of Future Deaths report that critical information about Charlie’s mental health had not been adequately shared or considered when planning his return to the barracks.

He also highlighted that the British Army does not require mandatory suicide prevention training for its welfare officers or non-commissioned officers (NCOs).
Charlie had expressed a strong desire to leave the Army for some time, feeling trapped and unsupported. According to Tracy, her son had already submitted a termination form but believed he couldn’t leave due to a shortage of corporals.
“For the last couple of years, he hated everything about the Army and was going downhill,” she said. “He desperately wanted to leave but felt there was no way out.”
Tracy also recounted how the pressures of his service weighed heavily on him. Charlie had been deployed to Afghanistan at 18, transitioning abruptly from life in a quiet Welsh village to the demands of combat.
She described him as profoundly affected by his experiences, including a bomb explosion at camp and the loss of a close friend to suicide.
“It was a slow, gradual decline in him,” she said. “Every time he came home, he said it just got worse and worse.”
Tracy shared how Charlie’s outlook brightened temporarily when an Army doctor appeared to support his case for medical discharge.
“He was different when he thought he was leaving,” she said. “It felt like having old Charlie back. He had a glimmer of hope.”
However, a subsequent assessment by a nurse left Charlie feeling dismissed. “He came off the call saying, ‘She doesn’t believe me and will make me return to work.’ From that moment, he spiralled,” Tracy said.
The family tried to intervene, contacting Army officials to advocate for Charlie’s mental health needs. Despite their efforts, no effective action was taken.
Tracy is now urging the Army to implement better suicide prevention measures and training for staff. “They need to be trained to look for signs. Charlie was good at covering up, but the signs were there if you knew what to look for,” she said.
She also criticized the Army’s handling of her son’s case, calling it “ridiculous” and holding them accountable for his death.
The tragedy has left the family devastated, with Tracy describing it as a “horrendous time.” She has yet to return to work, and the loss has profoundly impacted everyone close to Charlie.
As the British Army faces mounting pressure to improve its mental health protocols, Tracy hopes her son’s story will serve as a catalyst for change, ensuring no other soldier suffers a similar fate.