Hi again Sandie

OK. Well I don't have any details as to that incident, but I did find, on a search, a link to a website
Malta Family History
and if you scroll down to the 80th named person, you will see
"Frederick Herbert BOURNE, aged 27 years, bachelor, Sergeant, Royal West Kent Regiment, the son of Herbert Bourne, married 14th October 1942, to Dorothy Lilian PRIOR, aged 26 years, spinster, the daughter of Arthur Prior"

Could the Arthur Prior named at the end of that entry, be your friend's Grandfather?

I hope this helps in some way

Sue