An Army sergeant was found dead on remote land near his barracks days after being questioned by police at a local station, with the interview triggering restrictions that prevented him returning to his previous accommodation, an inquest has heard.
Alex Cairnie, 30, who served with the Queen’s Royal Hussars regiment, had been the subject of a police investigation in the days before his disappearance from Tidworth Camp on 6 July last year. A bird watcher discovered his body on a hillside at Warren Hill in Tidworth on 8 July.
Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner’s Court heard that following the police station interview, restrictions were imposed preventing Cairnie from returning to his previous accommodation. The Army made arrangements to provide him with a room at Tidworth Camp, a major British Army garrison on Salisbury Plain.
Senior coroner David Ridley stated in summary of evidence from Cairnie’s wife Lucy: “You then become aware that there had become police involvement and Alex was the subject of an investigation. For reasons I am not going to go into, there were some restrictions and he couldn’t return and arrangements were made to find him some lodgings elsewhere. The Army gave him a room.”
The 30-year-old sergeant was placed on the unit at risk register following his relocation to the barracks accommodation. Captain Alastair Walker was assigned as his welfare officer to monitor his wellbeing during the period.
Cairnie’s final text message to Captain Walker came at 5.14pm on a Saturday, stating: “Just pinning my hopes on good news on Monday.” The welfare officer attempted to contact him the following day at 12.04pm, texting to ask what he was up to for the day, but received no response.
Captain Walker then tried calling Cairnie but was unable to reach him by phone. The welfare officer went to his room at Tidworth Camp to check if he was there but found the accommodation empty, prompting him to contact Wiltshire Police.
Walker told the inquest: “I rang civilian police to inform them that Alex’s whereabouts was unknown and that the military had welfare concerns because of recent events.”
Police launched a search operation on 6 July after Cairnie was reported missing, issuing a public appeal stating he was last seen leaving Tidworth Camp. The search concluded two days later when a bird watcher discovered his body on the remote hillside.
According to the Swindon Advertiser, police investigated Cairnie’s death but found no suspicious circumstances. Coroner Ridley recorded a conclusion of suicide at the inquest.
“Alex’s body was discovered on Tuesday July 8 2025 in a remote part of Warren Hill. Alex went missing from the barracks at around midday on July 6,” Ridley stated, adding: “I think there is enough evidence on the balance of probabilities to record a suicide conclusion.”
The timing between the police interview, accommodation change, and Cairnie’s death within days highlights the pressures faced by service personnel under investigation. The sergeant’s placement on the at risk register and assignment of a dedicated welfare officer demonstrated military procedures for monitoring vulnerable personnel.
The inquest’s conclusion provides official closure regarding the circumstances of Cairnie’s death. Military authorities continue reviewing support systems and welfare procedures available to service personnel facing investigations and accommodation changes following such incidents.
