“Mum, I’m going out camping.” With those words — modest, humorous, self-deprecating — Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid used to let his mother know he was going off to do one of the most dangerous jobs in the Army, the job that finally killed him.

Yesterday, as his body was returned home from Afghanistan, his mother and his wife spoke of their pride in the bomb disposal expert who made safe 64 improvised explosive devices (IED) during five months in Afghanistan.

His widow, Christina, said: “I am very pleased to have my husband home. He is an absolute hero. It was awesome to see that plane coming in and to see him being taken off by his friends. He was a very brave man. There was no other man above him.”

Mrs Schmid, who lives in Winchester with her son, Laird, 5, from a previous relationship, said that her husband, who was known as Oz, had a Tigger-like personality: “He had lots of energy but also great presence. He was warm and friendly but behind closed doors he was my best friend.

“He was one of a select few brave men who were high-threat operatives. These men put themselves in front of explosive devices day after day.

“Oz wanted to preserve life. He was not a destroyer and he loved his team. So it is so sad that, on the very last day of him being on the ground, this occurred in front of them and my heart goes out to them.”

She added: “He is dead but I am alive and I do not have the luxury of grieving. I am going to live my life and carry on with those plans we made.”

His German mother, Barbara, said: “He was a hero but you never heard it from him. When he was going out to defuse bombs he would say, ‘Mum, I’m going out camping’. He was sleeping in holes next to the ammunition lorry covered by canvas.”

Staff Sergeant Schmid, 30, died on Saturday while trying to make safe an IED in Helmand province. His brother, Torben, will lay the final wreath at Truro Cathedral on Sunday. His funeral will be held later this month.

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