Soldier F2 -v- Secretary of State for Defence (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: KB-2025-004388

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division

8 January 2026

Before:

Master Eastman

Between:

Soldier F2

-v-

Secretary of State for Defence

Order

UPON the Claimant commencing these proceedings by filing the Claim Form on 17 November 2025

AND UPON the Claimant filing an application on the same date for an order for the anonymisation of his identity in the proceedings pursuant to CPR 39.2(4) (the “Anonymity Application”)

AND UPON consideration of the Anonymity Application

AND UPON:
(1) Consideration of the Article 8 rights of the Claimant to respect for private and family life, and the public and press’s Article 10 right to freedom of expression.
(2) It appearing that non-disclosure of the identity of the Claimant is necessary in order to protect the interests and security of the Claimant, that publicly revealing the nature and type of tasks and duties the Claimant was engaged in on behalf of the Defendant may cause damage to national security and that there is no sufficient countervailing public interest in disclosure.

AND PURSUANT to section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981; and rules 5.4C, 5.4D and 39.2(4) of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 and the inherent jurisdiction of the Court.

WHEREAS:
(1) For the purposes of this order:
(i) ‘Publication’ includes any speech, writing, broadcast, or other communication in whatever form (including internet and social media), which is addressed to the public at large or any section of the public.
(ii) Publication for the purpose of this Order includes any further publication (as defined in subparagraph (i) above) from the date of this Order, even if such information has derived from a previous stage or stages of these proceedings.
(2) For the avoidance of doubt, set out below is a non-exhaustive list of examples of communications and records which do not constitute publication within the meaning of this order (providing always that proper steps are taken to protect the confidentiality of information from being made public). In this list references to ‘the anonymised party’ include that party’s appointed representatives and advisers, such as its solicitors or barristers.
(i) Communications between the Court Funds Office and the anonymised party in relation to the payment of money into the Court Funds Office for the benefit of the anonymised party or the treatment of payment out of such money.
(ii) Communications between the Court Funds Office, the anonymised party, and any financial institution concerned as to the receipt or investment of such money.
(iii) Records kept by the Court Funds Office, the anonymised party, and any financial institution concerned as to the receipt or investment of the Claimant’s money.
(iv) Retention by all parties to the claim, their representatives, and their advisers of their unredacted files for the purposes of their continuing functions and obligations in relation to the proceedings.
(v) Communications between the Defendant, its insurers, or its successors in title and their legal and professional advisers, reinsurers, HM Revenue and Customs (or its successor), the Compensation Recovery Unit or any other person required by law.
(vi) Communications between the anonymised party’s representatives and advisers in managing that party’s affairs.

IT IS ORDERED BY CONSENT THAT:

  1. The identity of the Claimant as a party to these proceedings is protected and shall not be published. Pursuant to CPR 16.2, references to the Claimant’s name will be replaced with the cipher provided at sub-paragraph 3(i) below.
  2. Pursuant to CPR Rule 39.2(4), there shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings or other publication the name or address of the Claimant or other immediate family members, or any details (including other names, addresses, or a specific combination of facts, or the Claimant’s role in the armed forces) that could lead to the identification of the Claimant in these proceedings. The Claimant shall be referred to as set out at paragraph 3 of this Order.
  3. In any judgment or report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation thereto:
    (i) The Claimant shall be referred to as [“Soldier F2”].
    (ii) Any other details liable to lead to the identification of the Claimant (including any names of other immediate family members or their addresses, or the Claimant’s role in the armed forces) shall be redacted before publication.
  4. Pursuant to CPR Rules 5.4C and 5.4D:
    (i) A person who is not a party to the proceedings may not obtain a copy of a statement of case, judgment or order from the Court records unless the statement of case, judgment or order has been anonymised in accordance with subparagraphs 3(i) and (ii) above.
    (ii) If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR r.5.4C(1B) or (2)) for permission to inspect or obtain a copy of any other document or communication, such application shall be on at least 14 days’ notice to the Claimant’s solicitor, trustee or deputy.
  5. The original Claim Form and Particulars of Claim be amended so that the Claimant has anonymity with his name, date of birth and address removed from the Claim Form and Particulars of Claim. The Claimant shall be referred to as set out in paragraph 3(i) of this Order.
  6. The original Claim Form, Particulars of Claim and evidence in support of making this Order, as electronically filed, and the Order itself be restricted from access by any non-party to the proceedings in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Order.
  7. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 8 January 2026 and any application by a non-party to inspect or obtain a copy document from this file must be dealt with in accordance with the terms of that Order.”
  8. Any interested party, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or discharge this Order, provided that any such application is made on notice to the parties and that 14 days’ prior notice of the intention to make such an application is given.
  9. The costs of obtaining this order be costs in the case.