Crossword Genius

Soldiers give up and fall back (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

recede

'fall back' is the definition.
('recede' can be a synonym of 'fall back')

'soldiers give up' is the wordplay.
'soldiers' becomes 're' (Royal Engineers).
'give up' becomes 'cede' ('cede' can be a synonym of 'give up'**).
're'+'cede'='RECEDE'

'and' is the link.

(Other definitions for recede that I've seen before include "Withdraw" , "Go backwards" , "Start balding" , "Decree (anag) - ebb" , "Go back, ebb" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph and The Guardian.
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