I finished it ok, but had one of those post crossword moments when I suddenly realised that I didn't understand the terriers bit. Someone a few weeks a go said that E is getting a bit odd....some clues just don't add up! I got an unexpected reply from an O subeditor apologising for some factual errors in the summer (word lengths being given wrong etc), and that the reason was that as there was no proof reading set up for the crossword, errors had slipped through due to the compiler going on his hols!! Honest!!
A terrier is a territorial soldier, hence volunteer. I know what you mean about the crossword though. Mind you, last week was quite easy, in that, the clues fitted in with the answers.