Crossword Genius

Provide billet for crew in 1945? (7,2,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

quarter to eight

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'1945?' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'provide billet for crew' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'billet' could be 'quarter' ('quarter' can be a synonym of 'billet') and 'quarter' is found within the answer.
'crew' could be 'eight' (I've seen this before) and 'eight' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'to' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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