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Another tough EV. I've only solved one clue so far. Sometimes I just need help with one other to get me going, so may I ask for a hint for, say, 18a, please?

Veterinary to provide government with shelter in church (8)
For those of you who don't have the puzzle, the preamble is rather complicated. There may be 2 or 3 consecutive letters which must be removed from the clue before solving, not leaving any non-words, or it must be thematically treated before entry. I don't know the theme yet, although I suspect it's something to do with the start of the First World War, and lights being extinguished. I may be completely wrong though!
Thanks.

The "in" is surplus.
Do g lee ch - veterinary.
And you are right about the theme.

Thank you, finn.

I've ground to a halt with 2 quarters filled. Can anyone help get me going again, please? Preamble is as in my first post in this thread.

Protect real fish crossing river (8)
?e????ch

remove AL

protect = RETRENCH,

RE + T(R)ENCH, the fish is TENCH

Thank you, kilgore trout.

I have just one clue left - 9 down "Comparatively coarse cannabis that's taken by sister." It is a thematic answer and the unchecked letter should be "I" bur could somebody please point me in the right direction for the full answer.

Comparatively coarse is the definition. You need a slang word for cannabis, and the usual two letter abbreviation for "that is" inside a two letter abbreviation for sister.
Just wondering how you know the unchecked letter is an I?

Thanks for that Cloverjo. It is the slang term for cannabis which is eluding me but the i had to come from i.e.

The word you are looking for has 4 letters, the third one of which is a vowel.