Patrick Ohlstrom

Patrick Andreas Ohlstrom (16 December 1890 – 10 June 1940) was an Australian cricketer. He played in one first-class match for South Australia in 1923/24.^[1]

Patrick Ohlstrom

Personal information
Full name	Patrick Andreas Ohlstrom
Born	(1890-12-16)16 December 1890 Warooka, South Australia
Died	10 June 1940(1940-06-10) (aged 49) Adelaide, South Australia
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Right arm offspin
Role	Bowler
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1923/24	South Australia
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 1 Runs scored 4 Batting average 4.00 100s/50s 0/0 Top score 3 Balls bowled 56 Wickets 1 Bowling average 25.00 5 wickets in innings 0 10 wickets in match 0 Best bowling 1/25 Catches/stumpings -/-
Source: Cricinfo, 18 September 2020

Biography

Born in Warooka in South Australia's Yorke Peninsula,^[2] the youngest of ten children to farmer Pohl Ohlstrom and Margaret Ann (nee Purtle),^[3] Ohlstrom attended Edithburgh Public School^[4] and played cricket and baseball as a youth.^[2] After leaving school at 14, Ohlstrom worked as a clerk in Edithburgh.^[5]

World War I

Ohlstrom enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) on 23 June 1915 as a Corporal with the 32nd Infantry Battalion B Company^[6] and embarked from Adelaide for Egypt on the HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915.^[7]

The 32nd Infantry Battalion B Company was initially intended to join the Gallipoli campaign but troops were already withdrawing from the area by the time the HMAT A2 Geelong arrived in Egypt. After time spent guarding the Suez Canal, the Battalion was sent to the Western Front instead, where Ohlstrom was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 1 December 1917 and Lieutenant on 14 June 1918. ^[8] Severely wounded in a gas attack in May 1918, Ohlstrom was recuperating in hospital when the Armistice was signed.^[8]

Awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal,^[8] Ohlstrom returned to Australia on 28 February 1919.^[6]

Sporting career

Prior to the War, Ohlstrom played cricket for Glynde Cricket Club in Adelaide club cricket and baseball for Freemason Ramblers, one of the leading baseball teams in South Australia.^[9]

Following his return to Australia, Ohlstrom studied law at the University of Adelaide,^[7] and played cricket and baseball for the University, gaining a Blue for baseball in 1923 and cricket in 1924.^[7]

Gaining a reputation as a bowler with great accuracy and the ability to significantly swing the ball,^[10] Ohlstrom's good form in Adelaide district cricket led to his selection in the South Australian team to play Victoria.

Business and political career

Following his university graduation, Ohlstrom worked as a solicitor, becoming a partner in Edmunds, Jessop, Ward, and Ohlstrom in 1932, which later became Jessop, Ward, Ohlstrom, and Mollison.^[2]

A member of the Liberal and Country League (LCL),^[4] Ohlstrom served as Vice-President of the LCLs Glen Osmond and Eastwood Branch^[11] and was elected to Burnside Council in 1935, representing the East Adelaide and Glen Osmond Ward.^[2]

Ohlstrom was, at various times, President of the Glen Osmond Institute, President of the South Australian Baseball League, President of the Parkside Branch of the Returned Soldiers' and Sailors' League (RSL), member of the Naval and Military Club, the Stock Exchange Club and the Amateur Sports Association.^[11]

Personal life

Ohlstrom became engaged to Leonore Haynes in September 1921 and were married on 3 December 1921 at St Francis Xavier's Cathedral in Adelaide.^[12]

Ohlstrom died aged 49 at an Adelaide private hospital on 10 June 1940, ten days after undergoing surgery.^[2] He was survived by Leonore.^[2]

See also

• List of South Australian representative cricketers