An officer cadet at Sandhurst was found dead in his own car after he struggled with the tough training regime, an inquest heard.

Edward Milner, 26, was upset at his progress during his second term at the prestigious military academy.

After an 'arduous' 10-day battle camp exercise he was scored as only 1/5 for leadership.

As a result he was turned down by two regiments - the Parachute Regiment and the Irish Guards - he had selected to potentially join. 

Mr Milner took a period of leave before the start of his final term and went on a skiing holiday with his long-time girlfriend.

They had a good holiday and she did not find him unduly stressed or upset by his progress at Sandhurst.

However the inquest was told he had been suffering issues and had been in contact with Sandhurst's welfare team - though no details of what he discussed with them were revealed.

While driving back to the academy to begin the new term his car left the road and hit a tree on the A286 at Henley, West Sussex.

A shotgun was found in the vehicle and he was found in the driving seat with a fatal gunshot wound to his head.

At an inquest into his death at Horsham, West Sussex coroner Joseph Turner gave a 'narrative' conclusion into the death saying there was not enough evidence to show he had intended to take his own life.

The inquest heard Mr Milner, a former pupil at the £16,000-a-term Sherborne School, where he excelled at cricket and rugby, had started officer training at Sandhurst in September 2023.

Mr Milner, an economics graduate and talented sportsman, belonged to Sandhurst's New College.

The 26-year-old had done well in his Junior Term at the academy in Berkshire but had struggled in his intermediate term.

He had not met the 'required standard' and had been turned down by two A-list regiments he had selected to apply for.

Mr Milner had requested he be able to retrain by resitting his intermediate term - the second of three 14-week stints - again.

Giving evidence, Lt/Col Joe Bigg, the commander of New College, said it was felt Mr Milner would make the required grade to be commissioned as an officer at the end of his third term.

He had an interview scheduled with the Princess of Wales's Regiment the first week after returning to Sandhurst with the expectation it would offer him a commission.

Major Danielle Davies, his platoon commander, told the inquest in Horsham Mr Milner had been 'disappointed' over his leadership performance during the 10-day battle camp.

Despite his set-back she said she was 'shocked' when she heard of his death saying he had always looked for the positive and approached his training optimistically looking to see where he could improve.

She said: 'Edward Milner was respected, valued and liked. He displayed selflessness and loyalty to his staff and those around him. His high level of fitness always came to the fore and had a huge work ethic.'

After finishing the intermediate term in April he had gone on an Adventurous Training course with fellow cadets before jetting off on a skiing holiday near Geneva, Switzerland with his girlfriend, Grace Bolton.

They returned and spent the weekend together in West Sussex where Mr Milner complained of feeling unwell.

He believed he may have picked up a stomach bug on the plane and later contacted the medical team at Sandhurst.

Mr Milner was worried he might not be able to perform well in physical training on his return to the academy and was given a seven-day light training chit.

His girlfriend said that apart from feeling a little unwell her long-term boyfriend had appeared his 'usual self.'

The inquest heard he was a little concerned about an essay he was meant to have completed but he had requested an extension and didn't seem unduly worried about it.

They'd gone out with friends and had a relaxing weekend before he was due to head back to Sandhurst on the Monday.

He had slept at his parents house in Bepton, Midhurst before getting into his car at around 5.15am to make the two hour journey back to Sandhurst.

A registered and licensed shotgun owner and keen clay pigeon shooter, he had packed his shotgun in the car so that he take part in the sport at a facility close to the military academy.

He had been due to start his final term that morning but his car was found by police on a quiet country road near Henley after 6.00am.

The vehicle had gone down an embankment and hit and tree. Mr Milner was found dead inside with a gunshot wound to the head.

Coroner Mr Turner said police contacted the academy and found the cadet 'had been struggling on the training and had not met required standards and had been rejected by several regiments as a result.'

Mr Milner's family declined to comment after the hearing.

Sandhurst was forced to step up its support for officer cadets after the death of Olivia Perks, 21.

She was found in her room at the academy after what was described as a 'complete breakdown in welfare support'.

An inquest heard that senior officers missed multiple opportunities to intervene as her mental health deteriorated.

Two instructors were dismissed after a probe which also revealed a shocking number of sexual encounters between officer cadets and staff.

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