In January 1942 in Adelaide, Abbott enlisted in the Australian Army and served as a private in the 6th Cavalry Ambulance unit.
Upon his discharge with the rank of captain in July 1948, he joined the Citizen Military Forces and was commanding officer of the 10th Field Ambulance.
Bethune's cabinet met the next day, and after a two-and-a-half hour meeting, convinced Abbott to withdraw his resignation and return to work.
[5] Five months later, the Liberal–Centre coalition collapsed when Lyons resigned as Deputy Premier and withdrew his support for the Liberals, triggering the 1972 election.
[3] In the Queen's Birthday Honours in 1994, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to the community, particularly through local government and to the Tasmanian Parliament.
[8] Abbott's father, also named Dr Nigel Abbott, was a medical doctor who was involved with the conservative Nationalist Party (a precursor to the Liberal Party)—Abbott senior was an endorsed Nationalist candidate for the seat of Franklin at the 1934 Tasmanian state election, but failed to nominate by the deadline.