When Captain George Couzens lost his son in the Second World War, he chose to honour his memory with a gift that would endure. His major bequest to Radley established the John Philip Couzens Scholarship – one of the College’s most generous and lasting legacies, created not only in tribute to his son, but to shape the lives of Radley boys for generations to come.
John Philip Couzens (Hedgecock’s, F, 1935–38) was an Old Radleian who served with the Royal Artillery and was taken prisoner by the Japanese in February 1942. The harrowing details of his final months – as a prisoner of war sent to the brutal labour camps of the Pacific – paint a picture of unimaginable suffering. Of the 517 British prisoners sent to the island of Ballale in late 1942, not a single one survived. Their remains were discovered in a mass grave in 1945, but individual identification was not possible. John’s death was officially dated as 5 March 1943.
John was remembered by his Radley peers and tutors as a level-headed, cheerful young man, full of quiet integrity. Though not a natural athlete, he was a keen sportsman, a talented musician, and a respected member of the Radley community. “He possessed the happy power of causing all to feel more kindly one towards another in his company,” wrote one contemporary.
Since the founding of the Couzens Scholarship in 1993, 39 boys have benefitted from this award. Today, the Couzens Fund – now valued at just over £3 million – continues to provide life-changing access to a Radley education for academically talented boys whose families would not otherwise be able to afford it. In line with Radley’s commitment to fully means-tested financial support, Couzens Awards are now tailored to individual need. The award is given to Academic Scholars, reflecting the character and commitment that John Couzens so strongly embodied.
This scholarship is one of Radley’s major named awards, a testament to the power of legacy giving to preserve memory while shaping the future. Through the Couzens Scholars, John’s name endures not just in stone or record, but in the lives and futures of the boys it supports – a living memorial to a man whose life and sacrifice continue to inspire. His legacy, in the form of this scholarship, will endure at Radley in perpetuity, enabling generations of boys to thrive at Radley and make the most of all it has to offer.
As we mark 25 years of the Radley Foundation, the Couzens Scholarship serves as a poignant reminder of the profound and lasting impact that a gift in a will can have. Captain Couzens’ legacy is one not only of grief and remembrance, but of generosity, hope and opportunity – a legacy that, even in the absence of a final resting place, lives on in the lives of future generations.
