Oskar Wilkman-Vilkama

Born as Oskar Wilkman, he changed his name to the Finnish version Vilkama. He competed in the modern pentathlon at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics as a member of the Russian team. At the time, only officers were allowed to participate and Finland did not have its own Army until independence in 1918. He achieved his best results in riding and shooting. In 1920 at Antwerpen, he represented Finland in eventing. In the jumping on the third day, his tired horse fell at the fifth obstacle and Vilkama broke his collarbone.

Oskar graduated as an officer from the Hamina Cadet School and served in Russia as a cavalry master. He and his brother Karl were officers in the Russian Tsar’s life guards and riding instructors to the grand duchesses Olga and Tatjana, daughters of the Tsar. During this time, Oskar was champion of the Russian Army in riding and fencing. Both brothers fought on the Western front in World War I. During the Finnish Civil War in 1918, Vilkama was the commander of the Northern Häme Regiment of the White Army. From 1918-28 he served as the commander of the Uusimaa Dragoon Regiment.

His wife, Sisko Elna Vilhelmiina Brummer, was a doctor of philosophy and school headmistress and wrote numerous articles on family and educational issues. The couple married shortly after World War I and had three sons and two daughters. One of their sons became a judge at the Court of Appeal. From the 1930s onwards, Oskar Vilkama spent his summers in Arrakoski, in his summer villa on the shores of Lake Kilpastin.