Kim Hughes in Afghanistan

The grandmother-of-five said she was terrified of opening her front door in case it was the Army calling to say her second-born son had been killed.

“When Kim first went out to war I had real problems dealing with it. I used to watch the news from one channel to the other. I was beside myself waiting for the door bell to go,” she added.

“The worst thing to happen to him was when he was in a vehicle that went over a mine and exploded.”

Miss Trask said when she found out she was devastated, but added: “The Army were brilliant and from then on it did get easier, although it’s still a very traumatic and worrying time and it increases when I know what Kim does as a job.

“I just try and block it out, it’s more than worry and it’s an anxious time.

“The only thing we have to go on is the news and I’m thinking I have a son out there fighting a war and disposing bombs.”

But Miss Trask insists her family keeps her strong. Her other son, Lee, 31, is also in the Army and works in bomb disposal. He is married with two children and lives in Aldershot, Hampshire, but is currently on tour in Afghanistan. Both sons have served in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq.

Her only daughter, Kelly Harrison, 27, is also married with two children and lives in Lincolnshire.

Miss Trask said she only found out the reason her son was getting the medal after watching the television.

She added: “I found out what he did on the ground after watching the news and I asked him why he didn’t tell me the reason and he said ‘you’re my mum and I know you’ll worry’, he’s just so modest.

“The first thing he said to me when he called to tell me was ‘mum, you need to buy yourself a new frock because we are going to Buckingham Palace’. He has always been like that, as a child if you praised him he would think it was just expected of him, he does not like a fuss being made.”

But unfortunately for the Army hero a fuss is something he will have to get used to.

“I know he doesn’t like a fuss so with all of the media attention I suspect he’s probably quaking in his boots more so than when he disposes of a bomb,” she added.

By Jason Lavan