Diversion giving an essential cover for English soldiers? (9)
I believe the answer is:
amusement
'diversion' is the definition.
(amusement is a kind of diversion)
'an essential cover for english soldiers?' is the wordplay.
'an' becomes 'a'.
'essential' becomes 'must' (similar in meaning).
'cover for' is an insertion indicator.
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'soldiers?' becomes 'men' (soldier is a kind of man).
'e'+'men'='emen'
'must' going around 'emen' is 'musement'.
'a'+'musement'='AMUSEMENT'
'giving' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for amusement that I've seen before include "Entertainment" , "Pleasure, diversion" , "Fun" , "Something which entertains" , "Pastime; recreation" .)