Crossword Genius

Cloth worker joins navy, perhaps, becoming NCO? (6,8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

colour sergeant

'nco?' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'cloth worker joins navy perhaps' is the wordplay.
'cloth' becomes 'serge' (serge is a kind of cloth).
'worker' becomes 'ant' (worker is a type of ant).
'joins' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'navy perhaps' becomes 'colour' (navy is a kind of colour).
'serge'+'ant'='sergeant'
'sergeant' put after 'colour' is 'COLOUR-SERGEANT'.

'becoming' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for colour sergeant that I've seen before include "army officer" , "Senior NCO" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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