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EYE SPY MagazineThe Covert World of EspionageNo: 70 (November) 2010
THE CRABB ENIGMAMike Welham and Jacqui Welham - Matador Publishing
Commander Buster’ Crabb, a British naval frogman, disappeared whilst undertaking an underwater spying mission’ involving the Soviet cruiser Ordzhoriikidze in 1956. Just over a year after he disappeared, a body washed up headless and handless near Portsmouth. The establishment took charge of the body and, at an inquest, declared it to be Crabb. However, vital evidence was omitted and key witnesses not called. It’s now known that it was not Crabb who was buried in Portsmouth. But there was a problem, Crabb worked for the then head of the Royal Navy, Lord Mountbatten.
The authors make a plethora of claims, too many to list in this review. However, what follows is a condensed version:
At the time of the incident, US government security agencies had alleged that Mountbatten was doing ‘unofficial business with the Union. This, UK officials believed, was a valid reason for Crabb’s story to be held secret until 2056- an unprecedented 100 years. The FBI and CIA state that it is in the interests of US National Security not to make available any documentation or in formation, and applications to the KGB by the authors remain unanswered. However for thirty years Admiral Gennadiy Zakharov trained Spetsnaz troops in Naval sabotage and states that Crabb was in the Eastern Bloc at that time. Sir Percy Silitoe, former head of MIS also states that the department had a file that proved Crabb was in the Soviet Union.
There is no question the authors have a deep insight into the case, and clearly they have done a tremendous amount of research - made clear from earlier works such as Frogman Spy.
Is the Crabb Enigma worth reading? - absolutely, and there is a brilliant photo section and snippets of information that we haven’t seen before.
'The book is in the Amazon bestseller list for Espionage books'
Nautical Magazine January 2011
The authors have spent some 25 years gathering the evidence to establish what actually happened in 1956, and what became of Crabb. They tell a fascinating story in typical journalistic fashion, which, given the many loose ends, must be the best approach. They record interviews with everybody they could find who might know anything, and have reproduced some interesting photographs. They have even set a scenario for Crabb’s remains to return for burial…All in all, this is a serious attempt to establish the truth, one which will have to wait for another 45 years or so. In the meantime, the reader has an opportunity to agree or disagree with the authors.
Divernet
...this book is hard to put down.
After all these years, the Crabb story still has the capacity not only to intrigue but to shock.
CLASSIC DIVE BOOKSCommander Lionel 'Buster' Crabb.The 'disappearance' of Commander Lionel 'Buster' Crabb in August 1956 has never been resolved to the satisfacton of all concerned, especially the British public…That Commander Crabb was an extraordinary man there is no doubt...That he was an intelligence agent there is no doubt, perhaps reporting directly to the politically dubious Lord Mountbatten… The most recent book, The Crabb Enigma, poses so many questions and provides so many possible answers that the only conclusions that could be safely drawn is that 'Lionel Crabb disappeared'. It would appear that even today, well over half a century later, there are sensitive issues that both the Russian and British governments prefer not to be raised. Much of The Crabb Enigma by Mike and Jacqui Welham, concerns itself with the intrigues of international intelligence itself, surrounding the information gathering on Crabb. What is quite certain is that there is indeed a mystery, and no-matter what is written today, and no matter what archived intelligence reports are later released, there will be no definitive answer that will satisfy all of the people.
A reader's thoughts...
Just thought I would say what a great book The Crabb Enigma is...a good follow up to The Frogman Spy...a brilliant and captivating read. I really could't put it down. Richard
The Journal of Diving History
Spring 2010, Volume 18, Issue 2, Number 63 The Journal of Diving History Proud Sponsor of HDS USA.
THE CRABB ENIGMA Dear Leslie, You may recall that we met many years ago following the publication of our book, Frogman Spy. Well, following further research we have produced an updated edition and the following information is about our dramatic new book, The Crabb Enigma… I do remember meeting Mike and Jacqui in the formative days of HDS and have their book, plus numerous others on the Crabb saga, which is a diving story that seems, unlike its main character, will never die. Book reviews for the Journal are handled by Nyle Monday so we can expect one on The Crabb Enigma in the future. The activities of Crabb and his Gibraltar based unit against some of the Italian combat frogmen in World War II are well recorded. He disappeared under a Russian vessel during its visit to UK in 1956. As Mike and Jacqui indicate, from thence forth intelligence agencies on both sides of the old Cold War have been less than cooperative when requests for information and documents are filed. I am sure many HDS members look forward to reading the latest information in the book. - LL
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