“IT WAS really hard, really emotional. But I came here to be proud of him... I am so proud to be his wife.”

Those were the words of Heather Wood, who collected the Elizabeth Cross in honour of her soldier husband Warrant Officer Class 2 Charlie Wood, who died in Afghan-istan last December.

WO2 Wood, of 23 Pioneer Regiment was killed on December 28 while clearing roadside bombs in the Helmand valley.

At a ceremony yesterday at the regiment’s base, St David’s Barracks, in Bicester, Mrs Wood, of Langford Village, broke down as bugler Lance Corporal John Brockman, of 7 Rifles, played the Last Post. Mrs Wood, 31, said: “It has been quite hard, just because of the reason why I’m here. I feel he’s probably not too far away from me today, looking over my shoulder and making sure I’m okay.

“It was a great privilege to be here. It was quite fitting and it was nothing less than what Charlie deserved.

“Charlie was such a great person, so unselfish and always giving to other people, the Army and the regiment.”

The Elizabeth Cross, presented to Mrs Wood by Tim Stevenson, the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, on behalf of The Queen, is given to the families of soldiers killed in military operations.

A citation read out by WO2 Wood’s commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Dominic Fletcher said: “A committed and loyal soldier, he was the consummate professional and a role model of the highest calibre, who always strived to lead from the front and by example.”

He said the entire regiment had been affected by the death of WO2 Wood, who was the first soldier from the unit to die in Afghanistan.

Lt Col Fletcher added: “Many of the soldiers grew up with him. We’re very much a family regiment and his loss has been felt very deeply.

“The Elizabeth Cross is a nice touch. It’s a small token but something tangible for Heather to pass down through generations in memory of her husband giving his life for his country.”

Mr Stevenson also presented the medal to Janet Tweedy, from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, the widow of Sapper Thomas Tweedy, who was paralysed after he was shot in Northern Ireland in 1972. He died in 2008.

Mr Stevenson said: “I hope there’s a sense of pride that their deaths were as a result of dedicated work for their country.”