Christopher Muzvuru

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Piper Christopher "Muz" Muzvuru was the first black piper in the Irish Guards. [1]

Muzvuru was born in Gweru, Zimbabwe and joined the Irish Guards in 2001. He was killed by sniper fire, along with fellow Irish Guardsman Ian Malone, while serving in Iraq in 2003. [2] [3]

He was given a military funeral at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire after his body was flown out from Iraq. In his native Zimbabwe, however, he was called a "traitor" by the state-controlled media. He was therefore buried in Gweru in an unmarked grave to prevent desecration of his grave. [4]

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References

  1. Kwintner, Adrian (29 April 2004). "Irish honour for Zim soldier killed in Iraq". newzimbabwe.com. Archived from the original on 17 December 2005. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  2. "Irish Guards returned home". BBC News. 15 April 2003. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  3. Carty, Ed (6 August 2004). "Irish Guard Honored". Daily Mirror.
  4. Kwintner, Adrian (24 April 2004). "Proud piper lives on". Greater London, Kent, and Surrey Counties Publications (England).