TITLE: Normal subgroup of a normal subgroup
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: Let $F,G,H$ be groups such that $F\trianglelefteq G \trianglelefteq H$.
I am asked whether we necessarily have $F\trianglelefteq H$. I think the answer is no but I cannot find any counterexample with usual groups. Is there a simple case where this property is not true?

REPLY [2 votes]: Let $p$ be a prime, and let $G$ be a $p$-group of order $p^3$. Let $H \leq G$ be a non-normal subgroup of order $p$ (equivalently, $H$ is of order $p$ and not central). Then $H$ is contained in a subgroup $K \leq G$ of order $p^2$. In this case $H \trianglelefteq K \trianglelefteq G$, but $H$ is not normal in $G$.
For example, $G$ could be the Heisenberg group, which is the set
$$\left\{ \begin{pmatrix} 1 & a & b \\ 0 & 1 & c \\ 0 & 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix} : a, b, c \in \mathbb{Z}_p \right\}$$
of matrices under multiplication. In the case $p = 2$ this group is isomorphic to $D_8$, which is the example given in another answer.