Royal Marine trainee discovered useless believed he was ‘worst recruit’

A Royal Marine trainee who was found dead on a railway line just weeks into his initial training believed he was the ‘worst recruit’, an inquest has heard.

Connor Clark, 18, was struck by a train near his base in Devon on the morning of June 12 2021.

Before his death, the teenager had mentioned that the corporal and captain had expressed ‘implicitly and explicity’ that he was a ‘failure’ and the ‘worst recruit’. 

Major Mark Thrift, who was in charge of new recruits,  denied claims he said such things to Mr Clark, however he did admit he told the 18-year-old that he was failing the course. 

Philip Spinney, senior coroner for Devon, Plymouth & Torbay, said the inquest would hear evidence from former recruits about a ‘hostile atmosphere’, which saw instructors swear and be aggressive towards trainees.

Mr Spinney queried Major Mark Thrift, who at the time of Mr Clark’s death was the captain in charge, about the environment on the four week recruit orientation phase (ROP) course.

The senior coroner anticipated to hear evidence that recruits were sworn at by aggressive instructors, who told them they were ‘useless and shouldn’t be there’.

‘I expect to hear evidence that this happened to Connor,’ the coroner added. 

The officer denied the allegations, retorting that the course was about mentoring and coaching, as well as ‘easing people into training’. 

‘That is why the ROP was designed, so that it wasn’t a short, sharp, shock treatment of a national service,’ Major Thrift added.

‘We’ve moved on from that and the Royal Marines has recognised that. That’s not acceptable.’

The coroner also expected to hear evidence that ‘negative comments’ were made towards recruits.

Major Thrift replied: ‘It is something I am aware of, and it does happen, from what I would describe as inexperienced but passionate instructors and they take it too far.’

When asked if he told the youngster he was the ‘worst recruit’, the officer claimed he told Mr Clark he was failing the course.

Another witness, Sergeant Clinton Williams, also denied he had made those comments to Mr Clark.

‘I wouldn’t know, but I would assume not, purely because I wouldn’t have had any one-to-one interaction,’ the instructor, who was a corporal at the time, said.

Asked about swearing and being aggressive towards recruits, including calling them ‘useless’, Sgt Williams replied: ‘I couldn’t sit here and say those wordings… I wouldn’t use.

‘I couldn’t sit here and say I haven’t told people that maybe Royal Marines training wasn’t for them. I have definitely said that to recruits.

‘Especially in the early stages of training because, as Major Thrift did say, a lot of the attrition rate is because Royal Marines training isn’t what people expect and very quickly they realise that.

‘It can be a harsh, aggressive environment. But in my opinion, proportional.’

Mr Spinney also said he was expecting to hear about ‘commonplace’ confrontations, which saw recruits ‘lashing out at each other during various points of training.’

Major Thrift confirmed upon reflection it was during his time as a recruit, however it was not something he was aware of among those he trained. 

He added:’ [It] is a shame because during the diversity and inclusion lecture which happens on the Wednesday of week one, [it says] that they were part of a family and they needed to look after each other.

‘There was to be no bullying, there was to be nothing like that, and if anyone was to experience any sort of behaviour like that, they were to bring it to my attention.

‘Young lads get very tired, they get a little bit testy with each other, which I think is probably understandable, but it should not go any further than that and they should not be hostile.

‘The training has not changed even in the 40 years I have been in the service and people still get very tired when they are sleep deprived.’

The inquest heard the teenager, who was from Norfolk, died from multiple severe injuries on the railway line, which ran adjacent to the camp.

Mr Clark had just completed the third week of the course that all Royal Marine recruits undertake before they begin their initial training.

He had passed an inspection just three days before he died, which he had been recognised for.

Roommates realised the teenager was missing at 5am and alerted Corporal Williams, who launched a search of the camp – but not beyond the fence.

‘From the camp’s response, I don’t know why we didn’t search,’ Major Thrift said.

‘We are part of a family, and a member of our family was missing and had been outside the wire from maybe just after midnight.’

Major Thrift added: ‘That troop was my 15th ROP. There were no concerns prior or after for the two years I was there of somebody self-harming or the risk of suicide.’

The hearing continues.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org