Feature: Birthday soldier Rebecca follows in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth

A 25-year-old electronics technician in the British army celebrates her birthday Thursday, just like Queen Elizabeth.

Rebecca Smith has something else in common with the British monarch who turned 90 Thursday.

She has followed in the footsteps of the queen who at the age of 18 joined the army during the dark days of World War II.

"During the war she rolled up her sleeves and got her hands dirty serving as a mechanic in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) -- doing a job just like mine," said Smith, now a corporal in the army.

"My job involves diagnosing and fixing electrical problems with the Challenger 2 main battle tank. It's a dirty job and your hands are permanently black but someone has to do it -- and I wouldn't do anything else," she added.

"I think it's admirable that during the war Princess Elizabeth joined the ATS. She was 18 and by the end of the war she reached the rank of Junior Commander and passed out as a fully qualified driver," she said.

"It's important that on her 90th birthday our nation pays tribute to what she did during that time. For me, it's nice to know that we did a similar job all those years apart, and that we share the same birthday is a nice connection," Smith said.

"It's an interesting side to her character. She could have got a job anywhere, doing something far more comfortable but she chose the life of overalls and elbow grease -- and I don't blame her."

Smith, as a teenager, had pondered a life in the military but her chosen path had been the Royal Air Force.

Smith, whose story was highlighted by the Ministry of Defense, added: "As I celebrate turning 25 this year, I'll be remembering my special connection to the queen, wishing her a happy birthday and a job well done." Endit