Stamp on General K S Thimayya DSO – Cyprus 1966
General K S Thimayya ,DSO was a distinguished soldier of Indian Army. He was born on 30 Mar 1906 at Madekeri,Coorg,Mysore (Karnataka) and died on 17 Dec 1965. He was Chief of Army Staff ,Indian Army from 08 May 1957 to 07 May 1961 in the period leading to India China conflict of 1962. He was only Indian to command an Infantry Brigade during World War II and after Korean War headed a UNO unit dealing with repatriation of Prisoners of War. After retirement from Indian Army he was appointed as Commander of United Nation Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus from July 1964 to 17 Dec 1965.
A Graduate of Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College ,he was one of the six cadets selected to undergo training at Royal Military College Sandhurst. He was commissioned in Indian Army on 04 Feb 1926 alongwith P N Thapar who later succeeded him as Chief of Army Staff. He joined 4th Battalion of 19th Hyderabad Regiment (Now Kumaon Regiment).He attended Staff College at Quetta (now in Pakistan) in 1942 ,where he and his wife had earned praise for their selfless service during 1935 Quetta Earthquake.
During the Burma Campaign he was Commanding 8/19th Hyderabad Regiment and was awarded the DSO (Distinguished Service Order) and Mention -in Despatches. He commanded 268th Indian Infantry Brigade in Japan after WWII to deal with Japanese surrender. After Independence saw action with 19 Division in J&K conflict of 1947 and Battle of Zojila. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1954.
Cyprus issued a stamp in his honour on 06 Jun 1966 (6.6.66). The date is a Palindrome date and a FDC on a distinguished Soldier is listed.
Stamp Digest 