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@chrise #57: yes, there are two spellings for the first word of 1a, homophones. It's the 2nd letter which differs, so not a crosser, so either would fit: I think the one which comes later in the alphabet is probably the intended answer, as it's a real phrase rather than the rather contrived other one!

pamd
Yes. there are two spellings, but only one of them is related to a French letter!

1a - Military origin. Members of the Armed Forced were given the item in a small paper envelope, and as most were destined for France… (it had little to do with the answer!).

Also, French leave means AWOL.

All done except 7 8 and 11!! Any help most welcome- thanks

Sorry 7 9 and 11!

Hi Judy,

7d - 6 letter word for "ruins" that is also a much shorter homophone for 'king'

9a - A 6 letter "thunderbirds character minus first letter/'top'As a verb) gives definition of "showers

11a - hidden (after you've followed 'about' as a verb - it's a loger version a more common 4 letter musical term.

Thank you so much Brendan I will now re-apply the brain! As always I so enjoy reading all Solvers' input.

Thank you Judy, that is much appreciated:-)

All done and I loved 7D - very clever. Finally got 11A thanks to my Oxford Dictionary of Music which I picked up in a charity shop some 20 years ago and has proved invaluable ever since and-then penny dropped!!!!

That's brilliand Judy, well done:-)

By the way, at least according to the posts, nobody on here had heard of that musical term, only the shorter 4 letter version - one up for the charity shop 😀