On 15 November 1892 Talbot was appointed a staff officer at army headquarters and he became Deputy Assistant Adjutant General on 1 September 1895, holding that position for two years. Between 1897 and 1899 Talbot served on the staff of General Kitchener during the Anglo-Egyptian conquest of Sudan. He was mentioned in dispatches in September 1898 by Kitchener for his actions at the Battle of Omdurman. He later served on secondment to the Egyptian Army (as a major-general) and was promoted to brevet lieutenant-colonel on 15 November 1898. On 1 March 1900 Talbot was granted the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel; this was later antedated to 18 February 1900.