Former Royal Marines head took own life after 'substantial stress'

Maj Gen Matthew Holmes led the Royal Marines for two years

The former head of the Royal Marines took his own life after experiencing "substantial stress" at work and in his marriage, an inquest has concluded.

Maj Gen Matthew Holmes, 54, was found dead at his home in Winchester, Hampshire, on 2 Oct 2021.

He had recently lost his position as Commandant General and was facing a marital break-up, the inquest heard.

He served in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, and led the Royal Marines from 2019 until April 2021.

Maj Gen Holmes' funeral was held with full military honours at Winchester Cathedral

Maj Gen Holmes' widow, Lea Holmes, said she found her husband sitting next to a shotgun at home in September 2021.

"I said, 'What do you think you are doing?'," she told the hearing. "He said something along the lines of, 'My life is not worth living without my family'."

Police removed the weapon eight days later, the hearing in Winchester was told.

Maj Gen Holmes (front) received honours for his leadership on operations in Afghanistan

Maj Gen Holmes was also concerned about the UK withdrawal from Afghanistan, the inquest was told.

Jonathan Ball, chief executive of the Royal Marines Association, said he feared for the lives of friends in the Afghan army.

Giving evidence, he said: "He made some very close personal friends with senior Afghan officers. He felt that somehow he had personally failed them by failing to help get them out."

Maj Gen Holmes found the loss of his job "hugely humiliating", his widow told the inquest.

Mrs Holmes said her husband was told to agree to a restructuring through which he would lose his role or have to resign.

'Kind and generous'

His sister Sarah Adkins told the hearing: "He said the main thing that was on the front burner of his mind was the way in which his career had been brought to conclusion."

Hampshire coroner Jason Pegg said Maj Gen Holmes' death by hanging was contributed to by "substantial stress".

Following the hearing, Mrs Holmes issued a tribute to her "kind and generous" husband.

In a statement, she said: "Matt was exceptionally proud to have served as Commandant General of the Royal Marines and his service was recognised by being awarded a DSO and CBE.

"Following Matt's death, we also learned that he had been awarded the Legion of Merit by the United States of America for his exceptionally meritorious service in Afghanistan.

"Not a day would go by without him thinking of the men under his command who were lost or injured; and of course, their families.

"Alongside the demands of his career, Matt was a loving father who adored his children and would have hugely admired their resilience over the last 18 months."