Tracy Evans, the mother of Lance Corporal Charlie Owen, a decorated soldier who dedicated his life to serving in the Welsh Guards, feels her son has been left behind by the British Army following his tragic suicide at the age of 25. Despite his dedicated service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, Tracy feels that Charlie has been forgotten by the very organisation he cherished. She expressed her disappointment and anger, saying, “We have now washed our hands of the Army – we want nothing more to do with them.”
Charlie bravely fought on the frontline and was awarded the King’s Coronation and Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medals. But behind his valiant facade, he struggled with significant mental health issues, compounded by personal challenges such as a relationship breakdown and the loss of friends. Despite turning to the Army for help, communication failures resulted in devastating consequences. His mother’s legal team argued that crucial information wasn’t passed on to barracks officials, leaving him vulnerable.
In November 2024, an inquest highlighted these oversights, with the Assistant Coroner stating that the lack of effective communication and support “may possibly have contributed to his death.” Tracy Evans is now advocating for families to be more involved in supporting soldiers facing mental health struggles, fearing for others if changes aren’t made.
She said, “Family support is still incredibly important. We know our children.” An MoD spokesperson acknowledged the profound impact of Charlie’s death on his loved ones and reiterated their commitment to supporting personnel with mental health challenges, stating that they are taking the observations from the inquest seriously.
If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that Samaritans offer non-judgmental support 24/7. Reach out to them at 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org for help. Your mental wellbeing matters. Let’s remember Lance Corporal Owen and continue fighting for better support systems for our brave soldiers.