Within days of what would have been her third wedding anniversary, Gulf War widow Samantha Roberts yesterday leapt from a plane in his memory.

And as well as finding it a fitting tribute to late husband Steve, she was also helping to raise cash for this year's British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Steve, a 33-year-old commander with the Royal Tank Regiment, was killed in action on March 24 last year, just three days into the Iraq conflict.

Yesterday Mrs Roberts travelled from her home in Shipley for the sponsored tandem parachute jump at the airfield in North Lincoln-shire. She was joined by her friends Amanda Welsh, of Milton Keynes, Simonne Leuty, of Wakefield, and Nicola Steves, of Derby.

After landing, she said: "I can't speak! I can't stop smiling! It was fantastic and the view was just great - but I was absolutely terrified.

"I can't believe I have done it. The moment you come out of the plane it takes your breath away.

"The best bit is when the chute opens.

"I can't believe I have done it because I am terrified of flying. Steve would have thought I was a bit barmy but he would have been laughing his head off."

She admitted she was still taking each day at a time since her husband was killed trying to quell a riot in Basra.

"Things like this keep me going," she said. "It gives me something else to think about."

As well as working with the British Legion, Mrs Roberts revealed an organisation she had set up for other young army widows had been progressing well.

"Basically this is to help people like myself and who faced a similar situation," she said. "When Steve died I didn't know who to talk to. I felt rather isolated."

Mrs Roberts and ten others formed a committee and get together once a month.

"We are trying to get some information together to send out to newly widowed people in the hope it will help them not feel so alone," she said.

She is hoping the jump will have raised several thousand pounds for the Poppy Appeal.

"The Royal British Legion was there to help me after Steve died," she said. "He would have supported me in raising the awareness of the vital work they carry out."