After the month end, when the salute is taken? (5,4)
I believe the answer is:
march past
'end when the salute is taken?' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.
'after the month' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'after' could be 'past' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'past' is present in the answer.
'month' could be 'march' (March is an example) and 'march' is located in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for march past that I've seen before include "Review of forces" , "ceremonial parade" , "in previous tax year?" , "Parade before a saluting base" , "Army manoeuvre" .)