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The most senior transgender officer in the British Army has spoken about becoming a woman, to mark National Coming Out day.

Captain Hannah Winterbourne said it was during a tour of Afghanistan when she was 25 that she decided to embark on her gender transition.

When she went public with her decision, she said she had nothing but support from the Army, family, friends and colleagues.

Hannah became an ambassador for LGBT Sport Cymru and aims to be a role model for those having a tough time, or those who feel they have to give up sport after transitioning.

(Image: ©Soldier Magazine/crown copyright)

LGBT Sport Cymru is launching its #ProudToPlay Twitter campaign tweeting positive messages and photos throughout the day, and Hannah's story is among them.

She left home at 16 to embark on a career in the army that included a sixth form college, university and Sandhurst.

Hannah became a commissioned officer in the Royal and Mechanical Engineers in 2010 and has served in Germany and Afghanistan, Wales Online reports .

“The army has been very, very supportive," she said. "It is a great place for transgender personnel. They don’t care if you are LGBT, black or white, as long as you can do your job."

“I have known all my life to a degree but sometimes it’s hard to translate feelings into actions," she continued.

“I didn’t feel right in my own skin but wasn’t sure what to do.

“I was at university when I understood who I am, but it wasn’t until 2012, when I was 25 that I did something about it.

“I transitioned because it is who I am. There is no choice. You can no more choose than you can choose to be black or white or left handed. It just is who I am."

(Image: Western Mail)

“I would say to someone reading this, ‘you are who you are and no amount of worrying or angst is going to change that so understand that who you are is absolutely fine," Hannah said.

“Try to find someone you can confide in. I want to show people what it looks like to be trans and happy.”

Hannah’s father Brian said he and wife Wendy’s only fears were that other people may make their daughter’s life hard.

“I was surprised but supportive," he said. "It’s not something any parent wants to hear, not because they are negative, but because they see it might mean a hard life. Though that’s not always the case."

(Image: Western Mail)

“When Hannah first told me she said ‘I have got something to tell you and it’s serious’," he said.

"I thought she was ill or something and when she told me I thought ‘thank god for that, it’s not something serious.”

Hannah, 28 and from Cardiff, said her main worry was that she would have to give up her beloved sport - rugby.

The advent of LGBT teams means that’s not been the case and after giving up competitive sport for a short time she now plays for Cardiff Dragons.