Enigmatic Variations 1609 Neighbours by Chalicea

A perimeter to fill in from the top left.  Two unclued entries to fill in and highlight the name of the speaker. Sounds straight forward-ish.

Some difficult clues – mainly the uncommon words that I needed to check rather than the wordplay.

The two unclued entries were the first to fall

WATERLOO and SARATOGA – both are battles

Then WELLINGTON became visible to me in the NW to SE diagonal.

Finally the perimeter yielded a saying from Wellington (it seems to be quoted in a variety of forms)

“NEXT TO A BATTLE LOST THE SADDEST THING IS A BATTLE WON” – a very poignant message considering teh current war in the Ukraine. We still haven’t realised the futility of it by our actions anyway

Thanks Chalicea – a pleasing puzzle

Key * anagram, underline definition, DD double definition, Rev. reverse

Across

7 Wife to pay attention to, all ears, ignoring the odds, a coaxer (8)

W (wife) + heed (pay attention to) + aLl EaRs = WHEEDLER

8 Part of loge exhibiting an S-shaped curve (4)

Hidden lOGE Exhibiting = OGEE

10 Decrepit basket made of rushes (5)

DD FRAIL

11 Formerly, as it were, in what circumstances capturing Italy and the French (8)

Where (in what circumstances) around I (Italy) + le (the French) = WHILEERE

13 Extremely late for work from time to time (3)

TOO (unsure of the wordplay here)

14 Limitless adolescent years or close of day for old people (3)

teens (adolescent years) – ts (limitless) = EEN

15 Spanish gaolers having cold, miserable day surrounded by drinks (8)

Ales (drinks)around c (cold) + (day)* = ALCAYDES

19 Mercurial esprit was penetrated for Ed (6)

(esprit)* = PIERST

20 Small, domestic, wooden objects finally merit reactionary scornful remark (6)

T (finally merit) + Rev. sneer (scornful remark) = TREENS

22 Retrograde bardic utterance of boisterous emotion becomes an expression of surprise (3)

Rev. Hoo (Bardic utterance obe) = OOH

23 Likewise in the past, alas, not later accepted (3)

Alas – a (accepted) = ALS

25 Revised old theorem for electronic interrupter (8)

(o + theorem)* = RHEOTOME

29 Disapproving sound, mostly empty, of hollow roaring nature (5)

Boo (disapproving sound) + my (mostly empty) = BOOMY

30 Distraught hospitals rejecting maladroit split in calls expressing derision (4)

(hospitals – split)* = HOAS

31 Complete removal of old partner coming back in command pursued by echoed din mostly (8)

Ex (old partner) + rev ic (in command) + Rev. noise (din) – e = EXCISION

 

Down

1 Made of yew for Spenser, e.g. hewn in rough way (6)

(eg hewn)* = EWGHEN

2 Regularly used ethereal source of gingili oil (4)

eThErEaL = TEEL

3 Ancient affliction overturned in gene therapy (4)

Rev. gENE Therapy = TENE

4 Incomplete awareness of danger in carcinogenic chemical spray (4)

Alarm(awareness of danger) – m (incomplete) = ALAR

5 Army regulation on journeys pleases historically speaking (7)

Ar (army regulation) + rides (journeys) = ARRIDES

6 Wild riot, second section of march (4)

(riot)* = TRIO

9 Old English tomb for historical colony’s founder (6)

Oe (old English) + cist (tomb) = OECIST

10 Cleaning out local and staff ultimately looking on (6)

F (staff ultimately) + eying (looking on) = FEYING

12 On the spot, observe, it’s said, child’s available (8, two words)

in (on the spot) + homonym of see (observe) + son (child) = IN SEASON

16 Lechery and untruths, primarily not, in America, honesty (6)

L u (lechery and untruths) + nary (not in America) = LUNARY

17 Intermittently gasping, one man gets partial privation of breath (6)

gAsPiNg On EmAn = APNOEA

18 Essentially ill-scented ruminant’s first stomach’s glandular wax (7)

Ce (essentially ill-scented) + rumen (ruminant’s first stomach) = CERUMEN

21 Grief of old fellow, duke accompanied by female according to Will (6)

Wo (grief of old) + man (fellow) + d(duke) = WOMAND

24 Bread for South African enclave, Italy supporting large quantity (4)

Lot (large quantity) + I (Italy) = LOTI

26 In Holyrood expression of weariness; very hard welcoming EC (4)

HH (very hard) around ec = HECH

27 Expel from tournament without justice (4)

Joust(tournament) – j (justice) = OUST

28 Brief time – hour is not that! (4)

T(brief time) + h (hour) + is = THIS