Zoe Todd-Martell

Gunner Zoe Todd-Martell

GUNNER is the diary, photos and postcards of an ordinary soldier from Normandy to Germany in 1944-45. It also includes extracts from the regimental war diary and history. Sergeant Leslie Todd served with the 90th (Middlesex) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (Territorial Army) which was formed on April 1, 1939, with its headquarters at Alexandra Palace, North London. It began as a cadre from the Finchley-based 61st AA regiment. Recruits were drawn from the Muswell Hill, Palmers Green, Southgate, Crouch End and Hornsey areas of North London. The 90th mobilised on August 24, 1939, ten days before the declaration of war. The regiment provided home air defence during the Battle of Britain and afterwards, later training to engage ground and sea targets before landing in Normandy on July 7, 1944, a month after D-Day. The 90th took part in the Battle of Normandy before supporting the advance through Belgium and Holland, fighting at Nijmegen before crossing the Rhine into Germany. All proceeds from GUNNER go to the Not Forgotten Association military charity.