A30yoyo is correct. The caption for the same picture on page 66 of "In Hampshire's Skies" by Colin Cruddas:
On 22 September 1934, Sir Alan Cobham attempted to fly non-stop from Portsmouth to Karachi. His first air-to-air refuelling contact was made directly after takeoff from a Handley Page W10. A disconnected throttle linkage later caused Cobham's Courier to force land in Malta and the record attempt was not continued.
Another picture on the same page implies that Cobham's co-pilot for the record attempt was S/L Bill Helmore.