Boswall became lieutenant-colonel in 1912, Colonel in 1915, went on half-pay in August, 1919, and retired four months later. He served in the South African War in 1899-1902, when he took part in the advance on Kimberley, including the actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River, and Magersfontein; and in operations in the Orange River Colony, including the actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Vet River, and Zand River; in the Transvaal, in the actions at Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Diamond Hill; and in Cape Colony. He was mentioned in dispatches in 1901, received the Queen's medal with seven clasps and the King's medal with two clasps, and was promoted major. In the war of 1914-18 he was mentioned in dispatches in 1916 and received the C.M.G. in the same year and the C.B.E. in 1918, after serving as
