The Memorial Cross issued to the next-of-kin of Sgt James Beattie Larkins, who was shot down during raid on Emden, Germany on the night of 22/23 June 1942.

James Larkins was born in Dunedin on 17th November 1921, son of Herman Sidney and Marian Ethel Larkins née Nightingale. He was educated at Otago Boys' High School and was working for the Post and Telegraph Department before joining the RNZAF in February 1940. He trained as a pilot in New Zealand and Canada, receiving his pilot's badge in September 1941. Larkins embarked for the UK in the same month and served on four operations with 57 Squadron. It was on his fifth mission that his Wellington aircraft was shot down over Germany with the loss of the entire crew. Subsequent investigations showed the aircraft exploded on impact as its bomb load was still on board. Jim Larkins has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Runnymeade Memorial.

The Memorial Cross is correctly engraved NZ41338 Sjt. J.B. LARKINS and comes in its presentation case.