The interesting Great War Queenstown Boom Defence Officer's June 1918 Order of the British Empire and British War Medal pair to Lieutenant W. L. Ost, Royal Navy, who was decorated for his wartime services as the Boom Defence Officer at Queenstown in Ireland

William Lewis Ost was born on 5 February 1859 at Stokes Bay, Hampshire. he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class with Valiant from 9 June 1875, being advanced to Boy 1st Class whilst the Ganges on 7 June 1876. Re-rated as a Signal Boy whilst with Royal Adelaide on 16 August 1876, in that rank he joined Swiftsure from 19 September 1876, and was rated as a Signaller 3rd Class on 5 February 1877. He was then advanced to Signaller 2nd Class whilst with Express on 1 March 1878, and rated as a Signaller whilst with Royal Adelaide on 26 November 1881. Ost was back with Swiftsure when he was advanced to Yeoman of Signals on 20 March 1882.

In 29 March 1886 he joined Shannon for service with the Coast Guard as a Boatman, and then saw service with the station at Castletown on the Isle of Man, being promoted to Commissioned Boatman on 1 January 1890. In May 1892 he was posted to the Limerick Division, and on 30 April 1898 was promoted to Chief Boatman whilst with the station at Sheephaven Bay in County Donegal. During this period in his service records, Ost is shown as having been awarded medal on 18 September 1894 and again on 1 February 1898. Ost was posted to the station at Cahirciveen in County Kerry on 21 May 1898, and was there when promoted to Chief Boatman in Chief on 9 July 1901.

Having been posted to the station at Liscannor in County Clare on 11 July 1901, he then found himself serving a s part of the South of Ireland Division, but was then promoted to the senior rank of Chief Officer of the entire Limerick Coast Guard on 22 July 1904, and saw service with the station at Roche's Point at the entrance to Queenstown, now Cork Harbour from 9 August 1905 where he remained until pensioned from the service on 5 February 1914. With the outbreak of the Great War, Ost was brought back into service with the Royal Navy, being commissioned as a Lieutenant, he was employed throughout the war as the Boom Defence Officer at Queenstown, service for which he was appointed M.B.E. He was additionally awarded a British War Medal which was his sole entitlement.

The Medals are mounted for display on original ribbons, sold with a file of copied research, and are as follows –

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, 1st Type, Member's (M.B.E.) breast Badge, hallmarks for 1916; British War Medal 1914-20, Lieut. W. L. OST. R.N.

Condition, good very fine