Inquest finds army major died by suicide amid work-stress and parenting pressures
36-year-old Nick Coles, described as a rising star with the Black Watch, died in Hampshire after fears of seeking help would blight his military career, inquest hears
An inquest in Portsmouth concluded that Major Nick Coles, 36, died by suicide in the early hours of August 4, 2023, at his home in Andover, Hampshire. Coroner Jason Pegg recorded a suicide, saying Coles acted impulsively and that wine contributed to the decision. The hearing heard Coles had been drinking wine with his wife the evening before his death, with a blood alcohol level near the drink-driving limit, a factor the coroner said could have influenced his actions. The case centered on the pressures of high-demand military life alongside parental responsibilities and the toll of chronic stress on Coles’s well-being.
Tabitha Coles, his wife, described her husband as a dedicated soldier who balanced a demanding career with fatherhood to their baby daughter. He served with the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, and was known as a perfectionist who pushed himself to the limit. Tabitha said he was always trying to do as much with their daughter as possible, but balancing work and family was difficult: he would be leaving the office late, and their baby would be going to bed, with him trying to squeeze everything in at once. She described him as loving and caring, yet stressed by the demands of his role and the need to meet a cycle of long hours and travel.
![Nick Coles](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/09/18/17/102259429-0-image-m-16_1758214607853.jpg