stbryson Posted July 17, 2021 Share #1 Posted July 17, 2021 Hello, I have had this cigarette case (at least I think it is a cigarette case) for 20+ years. The inscription reads: U.S.S. TUTUILA SPONSORED BY BEVERLEY DOUGLAS POLLARD SHANGHAI CHINA JUNE 14, 1927 U.S.S. Tutuila was one of the two smaller gunboats (sister ship U.S.S. Guam; later U.S.S. Wake) of the "New Six" Yangtze Patrol gunboats. U.S.S. Tutuila was the only one of the "New Six" to survive World War II in Allied hands. Per DANFS, U.S.S. Tutuila (PG-44) was laid down on October 17, 1926 at Shanghai, China, by the Kiangnan Dock & Engineering Works. She was launched on June 14, 1927, sponsored by Miss Beverly Pollard, and commissioned on March 2, 1928 with Lt. Comdr. Frederick Baltzly in command. She was assigned to the Yangtze Patrol (YangPat) and redesignated a river gunboat (PR-4) on June 15, 1928. U.S.S. Tutuila was decommissioned on January 18, 1942, and the attaché delivered the ship to an authorized representative of the Republic of China on February 16, 1942. The U.S. leased the gunboat to China under terms of Lend-Lease on March 19, 1942, and she was permanently transferred to the Chinese government on February 17, 1948. I suspect this case was a commemorative gift for the launching of U.S.S Tutuila. In his book, Yangtze Patrol: The U.S. Navy in China, RADM Kemp Tolley said, "Like the Guam, Tutuila also had a slightly unorthodox christening. Her sponsor, fifteen-year-old Beverly Pollard, was well-indoctrinated in the ritual of the Roman Catholic faith, and the solemnity of it all must have been too much for her. She hauled off with the bottle (champagne this time), and smashed it across the ship's bow. Then, blowing her carefully rehearsed lines completely, she shouted, "I christen thee USS Tutuila, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost!" This clearly unprecedented piece of powerful joss must have been appreciated at command level, as Tutuila was the only one of the six to survive World War II in allied hands, and on of the pair which escaped total destruction," I have seen the sponsor's first name spelled as both Beverly and Beverley, though I believe the latter is correct. There are no other markings on the inside or outside of the case. I believe there would have been some type of clip or spring to hold the cigarettes in place; you can see the bosses on one side of the inner case that would have held such a clip. Though I have been interested in all of the Yangtze Patrol gunboats, U.S.S. Tutuila is the one I have always been most interested in. Thank you, and take care, Steve Bryson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
268th C.A. Posted July 17, 2021 Share #2 Posted July 17, 2021 That's a great piece! Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted July 17, 2021 Share #3 Posted July 17, 2021 Beautiful piece!! Is there a markers mark on the case…perhaps on the inside rim of the case….it may be there but very small. also can you post a photo of the inside latch bar….I have a number of Chinese made cigarette cases and have a theory about those made in the Shanghai area vice north China. The clip to hold the cigarettes would have been metal or silver imho….not a stretchy band as is most commonly found. BTW nice upper Yangtze river pilots book….I have the same one! Again great item! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerialbridge Posted July 17, 2021 Share #4 Posted July 17, 2021 Great Yangtze piece! Please show more. I've been looking for commissioning or launch ceremony photos for any of the "new six" that were commissioned in 1928 under ComYangPat RADM Yates Stirling, Jr. for 20 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted July 21, 2021 Share #5 Posted July 21, 2021 Fantastic ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stbryson Posted July 22, 2021 Author Share #6 Posted July 22, 2021 Hello, Nice patch, Wharfmaster! It is from the Yangtze River Patrol Association (YRPA), a group that was made up of those who served in the Yangtze Patrol, and Patrons (those who were interested in the subject). It was formed around 1974, and merged with the South China Patrol Asiatic Fleet (originally South China Patrol Association) around 2000, becoming the South China Yangtze Patrol Asiatic Fleet (SCYPAF) until it disbanded around 2011. I was a Patron member of both the YRPA and SCPAF (and SCYPAF), and attended four reunions over the years I was a member. Take care, Steve Bryson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stbryson Posted July 22, 2021 Author Share #7 Posted July 22, 2021 On 7/17/2021 at 11:43 AM, Dirk said: Beautiful piece!! Is there a markers mark on the case…perhaps on the inside rim of the case….it may be there but very small. also can you post a photo of the inside latch bar….I have a number of Chinese made cigarette cases and have a theory about those made in the Shanghai area vice north China. The clip to hold the cigarettes would have been metal or silver imho….not a stretchy band as is most commonly found. BTW nice upper Yangtze river pilots book….I have the same one! Again great item! Hello, Sorry for the delay in getting pictures of the clasp. I could see no obvious maker's mark on the inside of the case. Yes, the Handbook for the Guidance of Shipmasters on the Ichang - Chungking Section of the Yangtze River is an interesting book. Mine is a Second Issue, dating to 1932. It has an interesting "chop" on the cover and on one of the first blank pages. I also have a Yangtse Kiang Pilot, First Edition 1914. It covers the entire river. Take care, Steve Bryson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted July 22, 2021 Share #8 Posted July 22, 2021 Steve thank you for the pixs….even without a makers mark, I see the thick bar mechanism is what i usually find on Shanghai-made cigarette cases which makes sense given where the ship was launched. I am guessing the “chop mark” is the book owners personal stamp. Really like the 1914 river guide…..a rare beast indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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