He excelled at metalwork, composition of Greek and Latin verse and electrical apparatus.
His great-uncle William Barber Buddicom discouraged him from pursuing an engineering career, so Buddicom also studied biology and chemistry, and completed his science degree at Keble College, Oxford in 1897.
He was an Oxford scholar at the marine biological station at Naples, Italy and presented a paper on the potential for life in all matter.
He served there as physician veterinary surgeon, radio station proprietor and post office operator.
He constructed an aerodrome and established the short-lived Eyre Peninsula Airways (1929–1935) and operated a range of other ventures in the town.