Lord Richard Valentine Gascoyne-Cecil (26 January 1948 – 20 April 1978) was a British soldier, Conservative politician and freelance journalist who was killed in Rhodesia whilst covering the country's Bush War. The second son of the 6th Marquess of Salisbury, Cecil was in Rhodesia with a freelance film-maker, Nick Downie, recording material for a television documentary about the war. Carrying a rifle and wearing a Rhodesian Army uniform, he was shot dead at close range by a member of the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army. The Rhodesian government reported that Cecil had been "killed in action"; his body was returned to the United Kingdom for burial.
The Cecil family had long-standing connections with Rhodesia. The death of Cecil was mourned by his family and supporters. Britain and the United States had already planned negotiations between the Rhodesian government led by Ian Smith, Bishop Abel Muzoriwa and the ZANU PF and ZANLA leaders.
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