Related Clues:

• One has experience in getting the tree into the van
• Is the beastly doctor getting near to confused and old
• Never at 9 across and never 9 across
• The old tree has been chopped up and put in the van
• He's experienced enough to put an exotic tree in a truck!
• November 11th honoree
• Warhorse needing surgeon at near-disaster
• ... experienced without 50 relevant changes
• One with lengthy experience in service
• Describing cars built before 1919, especially before 1905
• Old stager
• Ex-soldier
• Describing a pre-1905 car (or pre-1919 at a pinch?)
• Army retiree
• Old soldier — there could be a few neater characters