Herald

[dave1948]

Last three
1d Force a return for sickly champ (4)
???W
4d Chronicles chief priest with a woman after only half the witnesses appear (8)
???O?A?A
5a They are placed opposite against the work of Schubert in the poet school (9)
???A?O???

[Mamyalynne]

I was thinking 'Chronicles' was the definition - obviously not.

[JJ109]

Well done Donny
Jeho(half the witnesses "jehovah's") + 1 + ada (a woman)

[fiction-factory]

Yes, clue must have been Chronicles' chief priest... and all this was the definition. Still wouldn't have got it though

[Mamyalynne]

Miles away, well done

[dave1948]

Thank you. You are great and persevere to the impossible.

[dave1948]

Don't despair Mamyalynne I wasn't even on the same planet Never mind miles away !

[donny48]

And well done JJ for the parse

[Captain2]

Just goes to show though that every element of a cryptic clue 'does' something - that missing apostrophe led everyone a merry dance. :))

[dave1948]

Just to confirm there is no apostrophe in Chronicles in the original clue The clue as quoted in the thread is exactly as given in the magazine. As stated I am very grateful to all those who worked hard to provide an excellent answer.

[Mamyalynne]

We love a good tussle - even when we (me) don't sort it.