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Thanks for the explanations.
Never knew about HE for High Explosive. Cheers.

Thanks, Whetstone. HE is listed in Chambers.

17a. Form of worship
PEW

1d. Area inside America base
DIAMOND

20a. Legendary female reportedly produced song from West Side Story, nervously at first
MAID MARIAN

Parses for the above please.

17 FORM as in bench
1 BASEBALL pitch
20 MADE MARIA (n) - "Maria" song from West Side Story

Thanks chrisE

7a. Backing tabloid, captures awards
GARLANDS

3d. Players attending companion, sick fellow with, perhaps, extra indication of cold?
WIND-CHILL FACTOR

8d. Sad expression in two notes by a male in East Sussex town
DEARY ME

16a. Basic commodity like corn getting soft inside
STAPLE

Parses for the above please.

7 Gar = Rag, tabloid, reversed (backing) and Lands = captures.
16 Staple, basic commodity. Stale, like corn, old-fashioned with P, soft (musical term, crossword favourite) inside.

8 Deary Me, sad expression. The notes are D and E, then add A M, a male, inside Rye, East Sussex town. De a ry m e.

3 D. Wind, players (in an orchestra, like Brass, strings) Ch, companion, Ill, sick, F, fellow+ Actor, extra perhaps. Wind Chill Factor, indication of cold.

Cheers again, Malone