Dirk,
I've found a little bit more info about Lt Talbot:
http://uxbmalta.blogspot.com/2011/10...nd-talbot.html
https://maltagc70.wordpress.com/2016...posal-officer/
So he had been carrying out some kind of Intelligence duties. Anyway, the fact, that the War Office sent an urgent telegram calling on Malta’s Governor and Commander in Chief to account for the death of Lt Talbot is the most unusual.