Ben's Crosswords: "With Apologies"

1.		2.		3.	g	4.		5.		6.		7.		8.
	g		g	9.			g		g		g		g
10.					g	11.
	g				g								g
12.				13.				14.		15.			16.
	g				g				g		g	g		g
17.				18.				19.				20.		21.
	g												g
22.	23.			24.		25.		26.		27.		28.
g		g	g		g				g				g
29.		30.						31.				32.
	g								g				g
33.				34.		35.			g	36.
	g		g		g		g	37.			g		g
38.									g	39.

Apology

I am sorry if I have caused any offence by using the symbol in this grid. I certainly do not endorse Hitler's National Socialism in general or anti-semitism in particular. This symbol and variations of it come up in many cultures, and this puzzle aims to explore some of its rich pre-Nazi heritage.

ACROSS

1. Scottish out to explore (5)

4. Awesome cast, faint characters (9)

9. Aussie creature with sound of regret (3)

10. see 38-Across

11. Game explorer (5,4)

12. Belt of sorcery (3)

13. see 15-Down

14. Passes note with errors (7)

17. Scan about rim (1.1.1.)

18. Dozens of points found in anthems (3)

19. Flags to fly furled backwards, reduced to symbols like one seen in grid (7)

22. Delicately ignite, even slay (7)

26. see 36-Across

28. 36-Across letter from home (Tasmania) (3)

29. Symbolism in grid-league bout? Rout, oddly. (7)

31. Some money, some ice cubes (3)

32. Spot Oz character? (3)

33. Ache? Groan about the port! (9)

36,26. Language cipher featured in grid artwork (5,3)

37. See you with no game (3)

38. Mixed bag ... he'd Tash Kent talisman carried by 1-Across and featuring symbol seen in grid (3,6,5)

39. Musical concpets evident in purest silence (5)

DOWN

1. Below par lab mourns reshuffle (9)

2. Conferring orders or condescending, reportedly (9)

3. Leaders of arboral conservation league found in tree - sweet but thick? (7)

4. Stir up disorder amongst soft men (7)

5. In ignoring logical expression ... (3)

6. ... a party shows panic (3)

7,8. SSR cohorts arranged symbol like one in grid (4'1,5)

14. In being selfish, being small (3)

15,25,13-Across,16. Friendly country, where French stick at meal deal (3,3,3,3)

16. see 15

20. Put too much on wild Rod's serve? (9)

21. In SS, was a kit returned with such markings? (9)

23. Fresh air for republicans (1.1.1.)

24. 36-Across letter from West Australian (3)

25. see 15

26. Sponsors of zoo staff? (7)

27. Your anger is missing a bit - it's less mature (7)

29. Certainly not the most messy slate (5)

30. Relative point in cryptic clue (5)

34. Scottish regret in pooches (3)

35. Note two top points of girl (3)

1.		2.		3.	g	4.		5.		6.		7.		8.
	g		g	9.			g		g		g		g
10.					g	11.
	g				g								g
12.				13.				14.		15.			16.
	g				g				g		g	g		g
17.				18.				19.				20.		21.
	g												g
22.	23.			24.		25.		26.		27.		28.
g		g	g		g				g				g
29.		30.						31.				32.
	g								g				g
33.				34.		35.			g	36.
	g		g		g		g	37.			g		g
38.									g	39.

1.		2.		3.	g	4.		5.		6.		7.		8.
	g		g	9.			g		g		g		g
10.					g	11.
	g				g								g
12.				13.				14.		15.			16.
	g				g				g		g	g		g
17.				18.				19.				20.		21.
	g												g
22.	23.			24.		25.		26.		27.		28.
g		g	g		g				g				g
29.		30.						31.				32.
	g								g				g
33.				34.		35.			g	36.
	g		g		g		g	37.			g		g
38.									g	39.

1.		2.		3.	g	4.		5.		6.		7.		8.
	g		g	9.			g		g		g		g
10.					g	11.
	g				g								g
12.				13.				14.		15.			16.
	g				g				g		g	g		g
17.				18.				19.				20.		21.
	g												g
22.	23.			24.		25.		26.		27.		28.
g		g	g		g				g				g
29.		30.						31.				32.
	g								g				g
33.				34.		35.			g	36.
	g		g		g		g	37.			g		g
38.									g	39.