XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 25

WERGILD

1.  S. Beale (Sheffield): Maiden indisposed to marry without compensation (anag. of girl in wed).

2.  Maj D. L. Clements (Sedgefield): Method of expiration? Sounds a fishy sort of answer—should be method of expiation (‘we’re gilled’; expiration, i.e. breathing).

3.  Rev R. J. Whitaker (Evesham): Fine interior in a flower-gilded frame (hidden).

H.C.

A. H. Ashcroft (Bath): Though an atonement, it makes one furious about the amount of work done (erg in wild).

L. J. Atkinson (Halifax): Retreat of the Durhams became an atonement (DLI grew (rev.); Durham Light Infantry).

Dr Blamey (Penryn): I am wild about a little work—a composition of some old Teuton (erg in wild; composition = payment).

R. S. Browne (SE5): Not a nudists’ colony, but a labour unit working in a state of nature—for their sins? (erg in wild).

Brig J. de L. Conry (Tonbridge): Paying, but unlikely, alternative for Nuremburg defendants (cryptic def.; wergild used by ‘Teutonic peoples’).

F. E. Dixon (Dublin): How the Teutonic murderer might atone by getting mad about work (erg in wild).

J. M. Doulton (Orpington): If I am keen about a piece of work, a fine composition should result (erg in wild; composition = payment).

L. E. Eyres (York): What price the life of a working unit in the Desert? (erg in wild).

S. B. Green (NW10): I grew up a heartless lad—the penalty of wrong doing (I grew (rev.) + l(a)d).

C. B. Joyner (Exeter): To be keen about a bit of work is fine (erg in wild).

R. H. Kuttner (NW4): Was it a reverse that made a famous northern regiment expand to its present composition? (DLI grew (rev.); composition = payment; Durham Light Infantry).

J. Laurie (Chalfont St. Peter): Whereby the Teuton once made reparations: a fishy statement? It sounds so (‘we’re gilled’).

Lt R. H. Lemon (SE18): As expiation for murder, we’d bury the girl’s remains (anag. of girl in we’d).

Mrs Magruder (Perth): A fine affair grew up over a broken lid (grew (rev.) + anag.).

T. W. Melluish (SE24): Eric’s girl upset inside about being married (anag. in wed; eric = blood-fine).

E. H. Morris (Fleetwood): To get off, criminal Frank paid court arranged wed girl, and all was fine (anag. of wed girl; used by ‘Franks and other Teutonic peoples’).

J. J. Murphy (Bath): Old composition that ought to be performed by the dance band after swinging Chopin (cryptic def.; composition = payment; i.e. “murdering” music).

F. E. Newlove (SE9): A fine business, upsetting a girl in the middle of being married (anag. in wed).

D. I. Randell (Woking): Irish Eric adopts Teutonic nationality in order to wed girl (anag. of wed girl; eric = blood-fine).

R. W. E. Stickings (Brentwood): Fine work in desert by “W” glider formation saves further bloodshed (erg in wild, anag.).

J. L. . Walker (Edinburgh): This composition refers to a much earlier Teutonic crime-waive! (cryptic def.; composition = payment; pun on ‘wave’).

405 correct solutions: no outstanding cause of errors. Too long a list this time to leave room for comments.