Pilsey Island
| Pilsey Island | |
| Sussex | |
|---|---|
 Pilsey Island, from the Thorney's sea wall | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SU768006 |
| Location: | 50°48’1"N, -0°54’39"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 0 |
| Local Government | |
Pilsey Island is a small island in Chichester Harbour, just off the south eastern tip of Thorney Island. In recent years it has become joined to Thorney by accumulating sand.
The whole island is uninhabited and a nature reserve of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds,[1] and designated a Local Nature Reserve.[2][3]
Lionel Crabb
The island made headline news in 1956 when the headless, handless body of Lionel 'Buster' Crabb, a navy diver, was found nearby. Crabb had been employed by MI6 to carry out reconnaissance around a Soviet cruiser, the Ordzhonikidze berthed at Portsmouth Dockyard, and the circumstances of the body suggest that he was murdered by the Soviet crew and mutilated to avoid identification. This led to an international incident.
References
- ↑ "About Pilsey Island". RSPB. 21 March 2012. http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/p/pilseyisland/about.aspx. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
- ↑ Pilsey Island – Natural England
- ↑ "Map of Pilsey Island". Natural England. http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271009073%27. Retrieved 4 August 2013.