Sallyport Hotel, Portsmouth
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Sallyport Hotel, Portsmouth
Reception of the Sallyport Hotel, Portsmouth, where Lieutenant Commander Lionel Kenneth Phillip Buster Crabb (1909-1956) stayed on the night of 18/19 April 1956. Crabb was a British Royal Naval frogman and MI6 diver (some would say sabotage agent and alleged double agent), who disappeared during a reconnaissance mission investigating the Soviet cruiser Ordzhonikidze in Portsmouth Harbour. A body was found months later, but it was difficult to identify as the head and hands were missing. Date: 1972
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Media ID 14346314
© Mary Evans Picture Library/DAVID LEWIS HODGSON
Agent Buster Crabb Cruiser Disappeared Diver Double Frogman Investigating Kenneth Lieutenant Lionel Mission Ordkhonikidze Ordzhonikidze Phillip Portsmouth Reconnaissance Soviet Ussr
EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: "The Enigmatic Night at the Sallyport Hotel: A Tale of Spies and Submarines in 1950s Portsmouth" 2.. The Sallyport Hotel, Portsmouth, holds a significant place in the annals of Cold War history as the last known location where Lieutenant Commander Lionel Kenneth Phillip "Buster" Crabb, a British Royal Naval frogman and MI6 diver, stayed before his mysterious disappearance during a reconnaissance mission investigating the Soviet cruiser Ordzhonikidze in Portsmouth Harbour on the night of 18/19 April 1956. Buster Crabb, born in 1909, was a decorated naval officer and a skilled diver, who was believed to have been working as a spy or even a double agent for British intelligence. His mission that fateful night was to gather intelligence on the Soviet cruiser, which was docked in Portsmouth Harbour for repairs. The image captures the reception area of the Sallyport Hotel, where Crabb checked in for the night. The 1950s decor, with its vintage furniture and ornate details, offers a glimpse into the era's charm and elegance. However, the tranquil scene belies the tense and dangerous circumstances that unfolded just hours later. Crabb's disappearance remains one of the most intriguing unsolved mysteries of the Cold War. Despite extensive searches, a body was found months later in the Solent, but it was difficult to identify due to the missing head and hands. The circumstances surrounding Crabb's death have fueled numerous conspiracy theories, with some speculating that he was captured or even assassinated by the Soviets. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the dangerous world of espionage and the sacrifices made by individuals like Buster Crabb in the name of national security. The Sallyport Hotel, with its historic significance, stands as a testament to the intrigue and suspense that defined the Cold War era.
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