Released by the army having damaged bomb in action (8)
I believe the answer is:
demobbed
'released by the army' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'damaged bomb in action' is the wordplay.
'damaged' indicates anagramming the letters.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'action' becomes 'deed' (deed is a kind of action).
'bomb' with letters rearranged gives 'mobb'.
'mobb' going within 'deed' is 'DEMOBBED'.
'having' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for demobbed that I've seen before include "Retired from military service" , "discharged" , "Returned to civvy street" .)