On the outbreak of World War II, he joined the Royal Sussex Regiment straight from school.

[2][3] Buckmaster was demobilised in 1946 and joined the Foreign Office, using his experience of the Middle East to good effect.

He was a political officer in Abu Dhabi from 1955 to 1958, and then First Secretary at the British embassy in Libya until 1963.

He took a seat on the crossbenches in the House of Lords, speaking mainly on matters relating to the Middle East.

He was succeeded to the viscountcy by his nephew, Adrian Buckmaster, son of his younger brother, Hon.