Further pre-inquest review to be held for Catterick soldier

Highlander  Nicholas James Hart, 33, who served with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and was based at Catterick Garrison, was found dead at the army base on February 5, 2022.

Highlander Hart, known as Nicki, started training to join the 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh with the Territorial Army in 2008, moving on to B Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, before joining the 4th Battalion.

He was deployed at the London 2012 Olympic Games, before moving to Germany.

Highlander Hart (Image: BRITISH ARMY)

He later served in Iraq and Afghanistan, for which he was awarded Operational Service Medals.

His last deployment was Op Toral 10 to Kabul, where he provided security to Camp Quargha and helped to close the camp.

Since his death, several pre-inquest reviews set by the coroner have delayed proceedings - with the senior coroner for North Yorkshire, Jon Heath, adding another review later this year. 

At a pre-inquest review on Tuesday (July 16) at North Yorkshire Coroners Court in Northallerton, Mr Heath added that there would be a further review on October 22 at 10am.

The soldier was found dead at Catterick in 2022 (Image: BRITISH ARMY)

Following Highlander Hart's death, his army colleagues paid tribute to him - saying his "warmth could fill a room".

Highlander Nicki Hart was said to always be "the quiet and calm voice of reason" and a "popular and likeable" soldier who made people around him see the lighter side of life.  

A eulogy released by 4 SCOTS paid tribute to the soldier, saying: "He always had a way of calming even the most irritable of people by making them see the lighter side of life.

"During Op TORAL 10, during many a month being confined to camp due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicki decided he wanted to be baptised so, during one of the Padre's visits to Quargha, the whole camp was mustered to watch him being baptised in the military working dog swimming pool.

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"His constant professionalism, personal pride, and friendly demeanour made him an obvious choice to help with regimental recruiting.

"He took to the job with ease, and recruiting in the farthest reaches of Scotland, he found that his thick Welsh accent proved to be an asset, as people would be drawn to him.

"Always smiling, his light-hearted nature and warmth could fill a room. He cared deeply for his friends and family, and will be sorely missed by all those who knew him," the tribute added.