The Army wife whose husband and three sons are ALL fighting in Iraq

And while most families would say having a single son serve in Iraq would be enough, one mother faces the heartache of watching three of her boys deployed to the war-torn nation.

Not only that, Wendy Mackness also has to wave off husband Danny who is poised to depart on his tour of duty.

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Major Mackness, 45, and his sons Adam, 24, Mark, 22, and Shane, 21, are believed to be the biggest family group in a battle zone since World War Two.

But despite watching her boys depart for the Gulf, Wendy remains upbeat.

"Of course, I am worried about the boys but, in a way, knowing that Danny will be with them in Iraq makes it easier," she said.

"I know they will all be doing different jobs but I feel that their dad being there means we are keeping our eye on them.

"I have been through all the worry for years, with Danny being in the Army.

"This is so much more difficult, though, for obvious reasons. This time, four of my boys will be out there and that's hard.

"That's what I will be thinking about while they are out there and I want them to come back to me safely."

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Shane, a lance corporal with the Royal Military Police, is already out in Iraq.

In the next few weeks he will be joined by his brothers Adam, a 2nd lieutenant who passed out of Sandhurst at Christmas, and Mark, who is a dog-handler with the Royal Engineers.

Major Mackness, who is based in West Germany and has seen action in Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan, will be deployed around the same time.

He was one of six brothers to join the Royal Anglian Regiment and has completed 26 years service.

The major recently went on a visit to Iraq to see his son Shane - and had to dive for cover after coming under rocket fire in Basra.

He said: "Shane had come to see me and we were having a chat when suddenly we had to dive for cover under the bed.

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"About seven rockets landed near us. You hear the bang of the thing taking off and then eight to 10 seconds later it comes in and could land anywhere.

"They are totally indiscriminate.

"I was just saying to myself, 'Please land over there in that field - not on us two'.

"It's a bit strange taking cover with your youngest son. Most dads might go to a football match or go fishing with their boys."

Major Mackness said he had never tried to discourage his sons from joining the armed forces.

"I went to Northern Ireland and saw what most soldiers saw over there - we'd get in a firefight every so often," he said.

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"But nothing like what's happening now in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"All that aside, I do have some fun with the boys - because they all have to salute me for the time being.

"I am probably nearing the end of my Army career, but if I am still in for the next 10 years, there's a chance I may have to salute Adam, who is an officer.

"But back at home, Wendy is very much in command. That's the only time I am properly outranked in the family."