Royal Marines recruit had been given many chances by superiors, inquest told

A Royal Marines drill instructor told a recruit who was later found dead on a railway line he had been given "so many chances" by superiors after making mistakes, an inquest has heard.

Connor Clark was just weeks into his military career when his body was discovered on the tracks next to the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon, on the morning of 12 June 2021.

The 18-year-old, from Norfolk, had completed the third of his four-week recruit orientation phase (ROP) course that all would-be marines undertake before they begin their initial training.

• Trainee marine found dead on rail line believed he was worst recruit, inquest hears
• Royal Marines recruit worried about losing leave over misplaced kit, inquest told

The inquest in Exeter has heard Mr Clark had failed a couple of kit inspections but had been re-inspected by an officer and passed, but was pulled up by an instructor for a mistake during drill training.

He had also commented about being a "failure" and the "worst recruit" and had misplaced a blank firing adaptor for his rifle.

Marine Charles Dryden, who had undertaken the ROP course with Mr Clark, told the inquest a corporal had criticised his friend.

"We were learning the basics of marching," Mne Dryden said. "During this, Connor made a mistake and the instructor said if he had his way he wouldn't have given him so many chances with the previous inspections and would have put him back to the start of the training.

"It wasn't his decision, however.

"This was not a singling out of Connor and the instructor had said similar things to other recruits who had made mistakes."

The witness, who is now a member of 47 Commando, said some of the instructors could shout and swear at recruits if they made mistakes - but there was also banter.

Avoiding repercussions 

The inquest has previously heard that two days before Mr Clark died he had gone to the sick bay seeking treatment for an injury to his elbow.

He told medical staff he had initially cut his elbow when he fell against a radiator, but then had used a knife to reopen the wound to avoid duties.

After the wound was dressed, he returned to training, where one of the instructors questioned why he had been in the sick bay – causing the lesson to be taught again.

"Connor replied that he was going to put his chit in anyway," Mne Dryden said.

"The instructor replied along the lines of 'While you're here and getting paid you are going to learn what I am going to teach you'."

The inquest heard that the other recruits were helping Mr Clark find the blank firing adaptor for his rifle because they did not want to receive a troop physical punishment – known as a "thrashing".

"I wouldn't disagree that you couldn't go to an instructor and get a new one, but I would definitely agree that at that point there would have been repercussions for losing that piece of equipment," Mne Dryden said.

"From what I recall, other recruits said they would help him find it and not say anything due to the thought of the whole troop getting thrashed and potentially losing the weekend leave we were due to get on the Saturday.

"I think there was always a fear that potentially it would not be granted, if standards were not met."

He 'seemed ok'

He also rejected claims that there was a "hostile environment" between recruits and did not remember any physical confrontations.

"It was a high-pressure environment and there was the stress of the course, but I don't remember physical confrontations," he said.

The witness said he was shocked at his friend's death, having only spoken to him the evening before about his plans to continue with the training course.

"At that point, I didn't think Connor would have taken his own life because he was missing at that point. I personally thought it was a cry for help," he said.

"I guess it is hard to believe that a person who I spoke to the night before would do that and seemed OK the night before.

"Obviously everyone was saddened by Connor's death but agreed that we didn't necessarily attribute that to him being bullied by the corporals or anything like that."

The inquest continues.

If you or someone you know needs support at this time, find help available on our website.