Army failed him, says mum of soldier found dead days after marching in Queen's funeral

The family of an 18-year-old soldier who died in his barracks nine days after escorting Queen Elizabeth II's coffin said his regiment needed to take "better care of the soldiers".

Trooper Jack Burnell-Williams, from the Household Cavalry, was found dead at Hyde Park Barracks in London on 28 September 2022.

The Household Cavalry admitted it had "failed Jack" and had taken action after a coroner concluded Jack, from Bridgend, was "plainly under stress" at work and did not intend to take his own life.

But Jack's mother, Laura Williams, 47, has said the army should have been aware of the "obvious failings" and acted sooner.

"Jack had a smile that would light up any room," said Laura, adding that it would "get him out of any trouble".

"He was cheeky, mischievous and loving, and he'd do anything for anyone," she said. "He just made any place a brighter place."

According to his family, Jack's ambition to join the armed forces was obvious from his primary school years.

"Even from a young age, he'd come downstairs dressed up in camouflage outfits," said his sister Elisha Williams.

"He'd be out playing in the mud, he'd come back head-to-toe covered in it."

Jack's family said he never wanted to go to college and had his heart set on joining the Army as soon as he finished at Bryntirion Comprehensive School in Bridgend.

Who are the Household Cavalry?

After completing training at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, Jack joined the Household Cavalry's Training Wing in Windsor.

The Household Cavalry is a union of the two most senior regiments in the British Army, and is divided into the Household Cavalry Regiment and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

The regiment takes part in events including Trooping the Colour, the State Opening of Parliament, jubilee parades and visits by foreign heads of state.

"He loved being in the camo stuff, but the twos, he didn't like at all: the shoes, the tie, he didn't like that," said Laura.

The inquest into Jack's death heard the teenager was "plainly under stress" due to what assistant coroner Bernard Richmond KC described as the "frankly ridiculous hours that members of his troop were expected to work".

He said there was a culture in the regiment of people having to "pull their weight" and that Jack was undertaking more duties.

"They were working stupid shifts back-to-back, no time off, they were just kept going and going and going," said Laura.

"He wasn't sleeping, he wasn't eating. He was just constantly working."

Hi family added they did not hear from Jack much during that time, and when they did "he looked absolutely terrible".

"If you can imagine just normal ceremonial guard, they'd spend six hours plus doing their kit," said Laura.

"So when it came to the [Queen's] funeral, it was non-stop."

During the inquest, the coroner returned a conclusion of misadventure rather than suicide, describing Jack's actions as "at worst a cry for help and more likely, in my view, an expression of frustration and despair".

He added: "Whatever [Jack] did was done, in my judgment, in a moment of anguish."

Speaking after the hearing, Brig Rupert Evetts, commander of the Household Cavalry, apologised and said changes had been made.

"We failed Jack, and we failed you. For that, we are profoundly sorry," he said.

While Laura said she was pleased with the inquest's conclusion, she is not convinced the changes outlined by the Army will prevent future deaths.

She also believes the failings should have been tackled years ago.

"I'm glad they've apologised and owned up their failings," she said.

Elisha, 28, said: "I'm relieved that they've acknowledged wrongdoing and we have had an apology finally, however that does not change the fact that we're not going to have our Jack back in our lives.

"He's never going to walk through the door.

"He was only 18, he had his whole life ahead of him, and that's been stripped away from him because of the failings of other people."

According to Brig Evetts, soldier workload has now been reduced and working time properly managed, with reduced guard duty and kit needing to be cleaned less often.

He added staffing had been increased with the hiring of civilian kit cleaners and plans to hire grooms to care for horses by the summer.

Over £20m has been invested in Hyde Park Barracks for improvements including soldiers' accommodation.

"Jack was just 18 years old, a soldier with tremendous potential and enthusiasm, who showed a real passion for serving his country," said Brig Evetts.

"We owe it to Jack's memory, and to his family, to ensure that lessons are not only learned but acted upon."

'They've been stuck in their ways'

In addition to the changes, Laura said she wanted to see the age at which soldiers can join the Household Cavalry increased, adding it needed to take "better care of the soldiers".

She hopes the proposed changes will be implemented, but said she was cautious.

"They're too stuck in their ways," she said, adding: "I hope things do change for other families, but they've been stuck in their ways for hundreds of years, so I'll wait and see."

Louise Sandher-Jones, minister for veterans and people, said the Army had accepted the failings identified.

She said 26 of the 36 recommendations had been implemented and work was ongoing to complete those remaining.

"This inquest challenges the Army and all of us in senior leadership positions in defence to do more to protect young soldiers," she said.

Sandher-Jones added Jack's legacy would be the introduction of changes needed to service life.