Were all given share of lifebelts, apparently, to join navy (2,2,3)
I believe the answer is:
go to sea
'were all given share of lifebelts apparently' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.
'to join navy' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'to' is found in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for go to sea that I've seen before include "live off the land" , "Leave working on the land" , "set sail" , "Become a sailor" .)