Abadie joined the army in 1858 and served in the 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia, where he was involved in the Battle of Magdala. He was made a captain 1872 and fought in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, including the Battle of Kandahar in 1879. He was with the 9th Lancers and commanded the Cavalry Depot at Canterbury from 1894 to 1897.