William Boswell (cricketer)

William Gerald Knox Boswell (24 June 1892 – 28 July 1916) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.

William Boswell

Personal information
Full name	William Gerald Knox Boswell
Born	24 June 1892 Chelsea, London, England
Died	28 July 1916(1916-07-28) (aged 24) Thiepval, Somme, France
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Unknown
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1912–1914	Oxford University
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 14 Runs scored 756 Batting average 30.24 100s/50s 1/4 Top score 101* Balls bowled 563 Wickets 14 Bowling average 24.50 5 wickets in innings – 10 wickets in match – Best bowling 4/22 Catches/stumpings 2/–
Source: Cricinfo, 1 January 2020

The son of William Albert Boswell and Florence Helen Rotch, he was born at Chelsea in June 1892. He was educated at Eton College, before going up to New College, Oxford.[1] While studying at Oxford, Boswell played first-class cricket for Oxford University, making his debut against the Free Foresters at Oxford in 1912. He played first-class cricket for Oxford until 1914, making fourteen appearances.[2] He scored a total of 756 runs in his fourteen matches, at an average of 30.24.[3] His high score of 101 not out, which was his only first-class century, came against Hampshire in 1913.[4] With the ball, he took 14 wickets at a bowling average of 24.50 and best figures of 4 for 22.[5]

Boswell served in the British Army during the First World War, being commissioned as a second lieutenant with the Rifle Brigade in August 1914,[6] with confirmation in the rank coming in January 1915.[7] He was promoted to lieutenant in July 1915,[8] while in October 1915 he was made a temporary captain.[9] Boswell died from wounds received in action at Thiepval during the Battle of the Somme on 28 July 1916.[1]

References

1. McCrery, Nigel (30 July 2015). Final Wicket: Test and First Class Cricketers Killed in the Great War. Pen and Sword. p. 258. ISBN 1473864194.
2. "First-Class Matches played by William Boswell". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
3. "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by William Boswell". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
4. "Hampshire v Oxford University, 1913". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
5. "First-class Bowling For Each Team by William Boswell". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
6. "No. 28902". The London Gazette. 15 September 1914. p. 7304.
7. "No. 29053". The London Gazette. 26 January 1915. p. 920.
8. "No. 29279". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 August 1915. p. 8631.
9. "No. 29376". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 November 1915. p. 11578.

External links

• William Boswell at ESPNcricinfo