| LYNCHPIN | Person vital to an operation (8) |
| LINCHPIN | Person vital to an enterprise |
| SURGICAL | Relating to an operation (8) |
| ANAESTHETIC | Drug used to dull feeling prior to an operation (11) |
| STAGINGAREA | Place for the assembly and preparation of military forces prior to an operation (7,4) |
| GARDENER | Bogarde nervelessly tackles character vital to the plot? (8) |
| NITROGEN | Element vital to photosynthesis and all life on Earth (8) |
| KEYSTONE | After opener stumped, single that is vital to stability (8) |
| BLACKEYE | Vital to stop British doctor creating visible injury |
| CABLETIE | A small plastic one-use tool, vital to any workshop for keeping things together. (5,3) |
| MOMENTOUS | Vital to take doctor and soldiers to America (9) |
| KEYINDUSTRY | Branch of manufacture vital to lockmakers (3,8) |
| KIDNEY | Vital to carry card with name to donate this? (6) |
| LAWOFAVERAGES | Mean rule vital to cricketers? (3,2,8) |
| MOLOTOVCOCKTAIL | Vital to mock 'cool' jerks -- but it can be wounding if it hits home (7,8) |
| FALKLANDISLANDS | This territory, called Las Malvinas by the Argentinians, proved strategically vital to the Allies an |
| ECUS | Coins central to Aztec usage? Vital to French currency, too! And Europe's, also! (4) |
| TRACEELEMENTS | Substances found in minute amounts, but vital to life (5,8) |
| MUSTSEE | Vital to a tourist |
| KINSEY | Vital to stay home, son, for the other reporter (6) |
