Dedicated Dumbarton volunteer Agnes Caldwell-Smith, known as Una Smith, was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) at the Queen’s birthday honours, for voluntary services to armed forces personnel.

The medal is the second Royal honour for Una after Prince Michael of Kent last year presented with her with lifetime honorary membership of the charity she volunteered with for more than a decade – the Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association (Ssafa) Glasgow branch.

The 72-year-old former nurse began volunteering with Ssafa after retiring from the Territorial Army 205 Scottish General Hospital branch aged 55.

She then spent more than a decade as a volunteer caseworker and fundraising co-ordinator for the charity raising thousands of pounds and working on hundreds of cases to help veterans and their families.

She said: “I was given life membership of the Glasgow Ssafa branch which was wonderful and to learn that they put my name forward for a BEM was a great honour.

“I feel Ssafa as a charity, although it is the biggest and probably one of the oldest as it was set up before the Boer War, it doesn’t get a lot of publicity compared to some of the newer charities like Help for Heroes. They do a lot of good work for the veterans and a lot of good work for people in need.

“Their motto is ‘One day’s service, a lifetime of support’. It was started for the families, the person who started it felt his men would fight better if they knew their families were being looked after.” As well as doing casework where she would help veterans and their families apply for state benefits and charity from their regiment if needed, Una was also a tireless fundraiser for Ssafa.

She raised thousands over the years through activities such as helping organise a Krypton Factor for cadets, setting up can collections and dances.

Una stepped down from the charity last year to care for her husband Jim, 79, who has Alzheimer’s.

She said: “I always enjoyed the work that I did and always enjoyed the idea that I was also helping people at the same time as enjoying myself.” Branch secretary, Russ McMillan, said Una’s BEM was well deserved.

He said: “We’re absolutely delighted for her. What a great award for someone that’s done so much.

“She really is a truly inspirational lady who has done so much for so many people. At Ssafa Glasgow we are so very proud of her.”