Battle of the Tennis Court facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of the Tennis Court |
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| Part of the Battle of Kohima during the U-Go Operation of the 1944 Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II | |||||||
 The tennis court and terraces of the District Commissioner's bungalow in Kohima. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 XXXIII Corps |
 31st Infantry Division |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Montagu Stopford |
Kotoku Sato |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 161st Indian Infantry Brigade 6th Infantry Brigade |
31st Infantry Division | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| unknown | unknown | ||||||
The Battle of the Tennis Court was a very important part of the larger Battle of Kohima. This battle happened in North East India during World War II. It took place from April 4 to June 22, 1944. This was part of the Burma Campaign, where Allied forces fought against Japan.
In April 1944, Japanese forces tried to invade India. Their advance was stopped at Kohima. A place called Garrison Hill became the site of very tough fighting. A small group of soldiers from the Commonwealth held out against many attacks by a Japanese army division.
During the fight for Kohima, there was intense combat, even hand-to-hand fighting. This happened in the area around the Deputy Commissioner's bungalow and its tennis court. The fighting here started around April 8 and lasted until May 13. By then, the Japanese troops began to pull back.
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Why the Tennis Court Was Important
Kohima Ridge was a long, narrow hill about a mile long and 400 yards wide. It had many smaller hills and valleys. The main road from Imphal to Dimapur ran along this ridge. The steep sides of the ridge made it hard for attackers to climb. But it also meant the defenders had little space to move.
In March 1944, Japan launched a big invasion of India called Operation U-Go. By April 6, British, Nepalese, and Indian soldiers defending Kohima were surrounded on the ridge.
Who Defended Kohima Ridge?
The southern part of Kohima Ridge was defended by the 1st Assam Regiment on Jail Hill. The middle part was mainly held by the 4th Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment. The northwest part, called Hospital Spur, was defended by the 3rd Assam Rifles.
The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Charles Pawsey's Bungalow and Tennis Court were in the northeast. This area was on a sharp bend in the road. It was first guarded by a mix of British and Gurkha soldiers. These troops came from the local Reinforcement Depot.
The Battle Begins
On April 8, the Japanese started attacking the northeast part of the defenses. They launched two attacks on the DC's Bungalow area. The Japanese lost many soldiers but kept sending more troops.
Some Allied soldiers used a Bren gun to cover their friends. They were pulling back from the DC's Bungalow. They moved to the other side of the asphalt tennis court, which was 12 meters higher up the hill. These soldiers fought until they ran out of bullets. Then, they were overrun by the Japanese.
At this point, the Battle of the Tennis Court truly began. A Company of the 4th Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, quickly came to reinforce the area.
Fighting Around the Tennis Court
On April 9 and early on April 10, the Japanese 58 Regiment attacked the Tennis Court area almost every 30 minutes. Major Tom Kenyon led the British, Indian, and Gurkha defenders. They had dug trenches and weapon pits on the western edge of the tennis court.
On April 10, these defenses and their overhead covers saved many lives. Japanese artillery shells landed on the Allied positions. The front-line trenches ran out of ammunition several times. But Sergeant Williams bravely resupplied them. He was given a Military Medal for his courage.
Relief and Silent Attacks
On April 12, the decision was made to replace the defenders of the Tennis Court. B Company of the 4th Royal West Kents took over. Major John Winstanley commanded them.
During B Company's first night, the Japanese attacked silently. They wore plimsoll shoes instead of boots. They almost took over the British front lines. One of the platoon commanders, Lieutenant Tom Hogg, survived a bayonet attack. He then fired all 25 rounds from his weapon, likely a Bren light machine gun, killing his attacker.
Intense Grenade Fighting
On April 13, heavy Japanese artillery and mortar fire hit the DC's bungalow and tennis court. Japanese infantry made several assaults. But these attacks were pushed back. The British Ministry of Defence called this "some of the hardest, closest and grimmest fighting." Grenades were thrown across the tennis court at very close range.
However, on April 14, the Japanese did not attack. On April 15, the British and Indian troops on Kohima ridge heard good news. The British 2nd Infantry Division was attacking along the Dimapur–Kohima road. They had broken through Japanese roadblocks. This meant they could relieve troops of the 161st Indian Infantry Brigade near Jotsoma, about 2 miles west of Kohima.
The Siege Ends
On April 17, the Japanese tried one last time to capture the ridge. They took Field Supply Depot (FSD) Hill and Kuki Piquet. But on the morning of April 18, British artillery started firing from the west. This stopped the Japanese attacks.
Parts of the British 2nd Division, the 161st Indian Brigade, and tanks from XXXIII Corps pushed forward. They forced the Japanese out of their positions northwest of Garrison Hill. The road between Dimapur and Kohima was now open. The long siege was finally over.
Continuing the Fight
Even after the siege was lifted, the Japanese did not retreat right away. Many stayed in the positions they had captured. They fought very stubbornly for several more weeks.
It is not fully clear when the battle for the Tennis Court was completely won. But tanks helped an infantry attack. They captured the Tennis Court area on May 10, 1944. By the morning of May 13, most of the positions on Kohima ridge were back in British and Indian hands.
On that day, the DC's bungalow was finally recaptured. The 2nd Battalion, Dorset Regiment, led this attack. They were supported by Grant tanks firing from the Tennis Court. Sergeant Waterhouse drove the lead tank. He fired its 75 mm gun into Japanese bunkers from only 20 yards away. Two platoons of the Dorsets, led by Sergeants Given and Cook, supported this tank.
A painting by Terence Cuneo from 1982 shows this breakthrough. It is displayed in the Kohima Museum in Imphal Barracks, York.
What Happened Next
Around May 15, the Japanese 31st Division began to pull back. Fresh British and Indian troops from XXXIII Corps arrived. They took over from the British 2nd Division and the 33rd and 161st Indian Brigades.
After the fighting around Kohima, the Fourteenth Army began to advance. They relieved Imphal. This advance continued until Burma was recaptured. The Battle of the Tennis Court was a turning point in the Battle of Kohima. It was a very important moment in the entire Burma Campaign.
The Imperial War Museum Duxford has a diorama that shows the battle.
