A former Territorial Army major has been made an MBE for keeping the forces in fresh undies.

Jack Strachan, 55, was a founder member of 710 Laundry Squadron when it was formed in 1996.

Since then he has been on top secret missions with all units of the British Army, including the elite SAS - but none can survive long without clean washing.

Major Strachan, who lives with his wife Janet in Filton Walk, Durrington, Worthing, is the commanding officer of the 200-strong squadron, which provides clinically-clean operating theatre outfits in the field, showers and clean clothing.

He said: "It's not a glamorous task at all, but it's one where there's a terrific amount of job satisfaction.

"People really do appreciate what we do. When we got to Poland, people had been living in tanks for three weeks solid and we had the first running water they had seen in virtually all that time.

"To be able to give them a clean set of clothing and a nice hot shower was great and they made us very welcome.

"When some of my junior soldiers are met by senior officers and they shake them by the hand and say they really appreciate what they have done for them, it does give them a bit of a boost."

The major left the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1985 after 22 years as a computer specialist to join Rentokil.

Within nine months he was pining for Army life and signed up to the TA, helping the laundry corps link up with the civilian Worshipful Company of Launderers.

He went with the laundry squadron to Poland, Belgium and Germany and always had a warm reception from the troops.

By the time he retired, 710 Laundry Squadron was one of the most-used Territorial Army units.

Major Strachan swapped his washing machine for a frying pan in September when he and his wife opened the Truly Scrumptious Cafe on the Strand Parade in Goring.

Of the MBE, he said: "This honour belongs to everyone who made the history of 710 Laundry Squadron one of the most remarkable tales in Army history."