No 12704, Wednesday 14 Aug 2019, Buzzer

ACROSS
6   After regular losses armed defiance ends with a bloody front (3-5) RED-FACED {aRmEd+DeFiAnCe+EnDs}
9   One out of force veteran too many (6) UNTOLD {UNiT}{OLD}
10 Present is special in what way? (4) SHOW {S}{HOW}
11 Desire to travel wide including Ulster perhaps (10) WANDERLUST {W}{AND}{ULSTER*}
12 Was OK to cut corners when off to make a date (3,3)  ASK OUT {wAS}{oK}{tO}{cUT}
14 Stonework of Madonna bearing child (7) MASONRY {MA{SON}RY}
15 Confusing predicament exchanging currencies right (5-4,6) THREE-RING CIRCUS*
18 Dog like a pointer that is jumping around (4-3) SHAR-PEI {SHARP}{IE<=}

20 Field dimensions restricted around centre (6) MIDDLE [T<=]
22 Pioneer led in field having no clear description (3-7) ILL-DEFINED*
23 Couple having to part with hug and kiss? Bad luck (4) JINX {JoIN}{X}
24 Sorely missing pay without reduction (2,4) IN FULL paINFULLy
25 A test win on tour, most golden (8) TAWNIEST*

DOWN
1   Some recipe to make wafer (1,3) A FEW {WAFEr}* [CA]
2   Cold drink that's gulped cold, one taken from one serving (3,5) ICE WATER {I{C}E} {WAiTER}
3   Covers performances from 2-5 included (6) DUVETS {DU{V}ETS}
4   Site of battle where Nadal's grit comes alive (10) STALINGRAD*
5   What to wish one suffering a sudden expulsion? (5,3) BLESS YOU [CD]
7   Being out of this world, present mostly in spirit (5) ETHOS {ET}{HOSt}
8   It's a pleasure to skip (4,7,2) DON'T MENTION IT [DD]
13 Couple of cricketing terms for 'finished' (4,3,3) OVER AND OUT {OVER}{AND}{OUT}
16 Hand signals when steering becoming a problem (8) HASSLING {H}{SIGNALS*}
17 Humour for the most part, personal and degenerate (4,4) COME DOWN {COMEDy}{OWN}
19 Rubbish heap raked very loudly (6) PIFFLE {PI{FF}LE}
21 Breathing apparatus during dips sapping power and energy (5) LUNGS pLUNGeS
23 Trouble underpins justice in prison (4) JAIL {J}{AIL}

Reference List
Special = S, Wide = W, Hug = O, Kiss = X, Recipe = R, Cold = C, Hand = H, Loud = F, Power = P, Energy = E, Justice = J

GRID