Listener Crossword 4315: Solution Notes
Homer by Dysart
Puzzle explanation
The puzzle marked the 72nd anniversary of a successful escape from Colditz Castle on 14 October 1942. The four escapees, who managed to reach Switzerland, were Captain Patrick Reid (who later wrote the books on which the TV series Colditz was based), Lieutenant-Commander William Stephens, Major Ronald Littledale and Flight Lieutenant Howard Wardle. The cells containing the letters of WARDLE were cut from the grid to produce “battlements”, though Colditz Castle doesn’t actually have them. The other three names were to be blanked, leaving real words, though submissions with all of the names cut out were accepted.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer [omitted letter] | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 3 | FAIRED | FIRED around A(quavit) |
| 7 | SLEET | S(aturate) + LEET |
| 10 | ERE | ERA with E for the last letter |
| 11 | PANTOMIME | (MOMENT + I(n) P(l)A(y)) * |
| 13 | LADEN | BIN LADEN − BIN |
| 14 | [C]ODDLES | (n)ODDLES |
| 16 | ICON | CION with I moved to the front |
| 17 | ADROIT | OR < in ADIT |
| 18 | KRAAL | A in LARK < |
| 19 | INULASE | IN USE around (L(actase) + A(llosteric)) |
| 21 | TEASE | TERSE with A for (pape)R |
| 24 | TRIP | (s)TRIP(e) |
| 25 | SORDA | SORA around D |
| 26 | GO[O]D-OH | GO + DH around O(il) |
| 28 | ELAPSE | ELAPS + (hom)E |
| 31 | FANE | FA + EN < |
| 34 | NOSIER | (VIN ROSÉ − V) * |
| 37 | À PO[I]NT | (PANTOMIME − MIME) * |
| 38 | DURESS | R in DUES + S |
| 40 | LEÓN | LENO with NO < |
| 41 | SALEP | L in PEAS < |
| 42 | OC[T]A | (s)OCA |
| 43 | EARD | ’EARD |
| 44 | [Z]EALOT | (repentanc)E + A LOT |
| Down | ||
| 1 | BELITTLED | (BELT + LED) around IT |
| 2 | WRACK | R in WACK |
| 3 | FEDORAS | ((i)DEAS + FOR) * |
| 4 | AVENA | (g)AVE NA(tural) |
| 5 | RADDLED | R + ADDLED |
| 6 | EN[C]RINAL | URINAL with EN for U |
| 7 | SODIUM | ODIUM after S(tress) |
| 8 | EILD | 2 meanings; DEIL with D moved down |
| 9 | EMERSIONS | (EMERSON + S) around I |
| 12 | TOONS | SNOOT < |
| 15 | STEP | STOEP − (wh)O |
| 20 | ARDAS | (SAD + RA) < |
| 22 | EEL-SPEAR | (REPELS + E + A) * |
| 23 | SOP | SLOP − L |
| 26 | G[L]EDE | GEE around D |
| 27 | [O]FF-ROAD | (FORD + A + F) * |
| 29 | SONSIE | SUSIE with ON for U |
| 30 | [D]RUPEL | ((app)LE PUR(ee)) < |
| 32 | ENSATE | EATE(n) around (N + S(word)) |
| 33 | KOORI | ROOK < + I |
| 35 | STAIR | SAIR around T |
| 36 | ISLAM | (rebel)S in MALI < |
| 37 | ALEE | ALLÉE − L |
| 39 | S[T]OW | WOS < |