Crossword Genius

Old soldier’s high-class article about hard left (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

uhlan

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'old soldier's' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'high-class article about hard left' is the wordplay.
'high class' becomes 'U' (as in U and non-U speech).
'article' becomes 'an' (English indefinite article).
'about' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'hard left' becomes 'hl' (this could be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
'an' after 'hl' is 'hlan'.
'u'+'hlan'='UHLAN'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for uhlan that I've seen before include "Prussian lancer" , "Cavalryman" , "Horseman once" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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