Kodendera Subayya Thimayya was born on in March 30, 1906 at Madikeri in Kodagu.He graduted from Indian Military Academy and got selected for further training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.After completing the course Kodendera Subayya Thimayya was attached to the Highland Light Infantry for few years and subsequently commissioned into the Hyderabad Regiment(now Kumaon Regiment) as the Second-in-Command just before the World War II. During World War II Kodendera Subayya Thimayya commanded the 8/19 Hyderabad Regiment against Japanese army in Burma .For his exceptional service in the war he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and Mention-in-Despatches.

For his great skill Kodendera Subayya Thimayya was selected as the commander of the 268th Indian Infantry Brigade as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan after World War II .During Burma campaign the 268th Indian Infantry Brigade did outstanding performances against Japanese army.During the time of Japanese army surrender in Singapore he signed on behalf of India. Kodendera Subayya Thimayya was awarded the `Keys to Manila` for his acumen and was appointed as Commnder-in-chief of British India by thre then Field Marshal Sir Auchinleck.During the time of partition Kodendera Subayya Thimayya was the member of the committee which was responsible for allotment of military weapons, equipment and regiments between India and Pakistan.After that he rose to the rank of Major General and appointed as a commander of the Fourth Infantry Division. Kodendera Subayya Thimayya also led the Punjab Boundary Force,which was dealing with refugee and infiltration problem.Later he commanded the19th Infantry Division in Jammu & Kashmir. At that time his troop drove out the Pakistan army and infilitrators from the Kashmir.

Kodendera Subayya Thimayya was selected as the Chairman of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission in Korea in 1953.He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1953 for his dedicated service to the nation.He served all three commands (Southern, Eastern and Western command) as the General Officer Commanding in Chief . Kodendera Subayya Thimayya assumed the the charge of Chief of Army Staff on 7th May 1957 and served for next three years.He gave his resignation in 1959 over a dispute with V. K. Krishna Menon, then minister for defence, but Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru did not accept it .Eithiopian Government awarded him the Grand Cordon of Menelik II in Feb 1961 because during his tenure Military Academy was established with Indian economical assistance. Kodendera Subayya Thimayya was appointed as the first Indian Colonel of the Kumaon Regiment on 1st Jan 1961. He took retirement on 8th May 1961 from Indian army.After retirement Kodendera Subayya Thimayya was appointed the commander of the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus from Jun 62 to Dec 1965.He passed away on on 18th Dec 1965 in Cypras.