Inquest into death of soldier at Larkhill Garrison set to conclude
Nadine Askew served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Royal Artillery
The inquest into the death of a soldier who took her own life at an Army barracks in Wiltshire is set to conclude today (7/5).
Royal Artillery Bombardier Nadine Askew, 31, was found dead in her room at Larkhill Garrison in Wiltshire on July 22, 2021.
Bmdr Askew, from Sunderland, had served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Royal Artillery.
An inquest heard in November 2025 that she feared a fight with a junior colleague, a gunner, the night before would cost her promotion.
The fight had broken out after the gunner had attempted to apologise for something he had done earlier that day.
The incident happened during a part at an accommodation block and saw Bmdr Askew dragged away from the confrontation.
Lucy Clark, a fellow bombardier, told Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner's Court that her friend had seen "red" and was worried the fight would cost her a forthcoming promotion to sergeant.
She told the inquest: "I know it was discussed in front of her and I can't recall if she actually spoke on it. I know she was fully aware of the repercussions.
"She knew that getting into a fight and essentially hitting a gunner was going to have repercussions on her career.
Referring to conversations they had after the incident about what could happen to her future career prospects, Bmdr Clark said: "She did briefly touch upon it, we were speaking about it and she said, 'I know'.
"I was concerned about how she was going to cope if she was to get demoted or a promotion ban."
The witness said she had no concerns about Bmdr Askew self-harming, but there had been prior incidents of self-harm, for which Bmdr Askew had been placed on the vulnerability risk management register and received mental health support.
Her parents said they had no knowledge of those instances of self-harm.
In a written statement, Amanda Askew and stepfather Malcolm Johnston told the inquest: "As far as we were aware, there was nothing in any of her relationships that would have been playing on her mind causing her distress in July 2021.
"She lived for today, she didn't worry about money. As far as we were aware there would not have been any financial issues on her mind.
"Mentally we didn't suspect any issues and always saw her full of life and happy. Since her death we have learned about some mental health issues she had experienced.
"Since her death we have learned that she attempted suicide before, but again, we had no idea about this, and it came as a complete shock.
"We noticed no changes in her mental or physical health, nor did we notice any change in her personality.
"In July 2021 she was looking forward to becoming a sergeant and moving to sergeants' quarters on camp.
"We knew she was trying hard to get promoted, and have since learned that the fight she was involved in on the night she died might have affected her chances of being promoted.
"We didn't think that would have affected her too much because she previously lost her rank because of a fight after an incident in Germany when she was about 20 and she had been demoted to lance bombardier."
The inquest before area coroner Ian Singleton continues.