How a decorated Royal Signals Major’s courage in wartime communication laid the
foundation for his daughter’s pioneering work in transformational change

The Royal Signals magazine, The Wire. Sep 1943

Major Farlow’s service record reads like a masterclass in courage under fire. Awarded an MBE for distinguished service in the Middle East theatre, plus six additional medals spanning from the 1939-45 Star to post-war campaigns, his role in the Royal Signals was both vital and perilous.

“The ability for military commanders to send and receive information at speed, whilst preventing the enemy from doing the same, has always been the key to success on operations,” explains the Royal Signals Museum’s Head of Storytelling, Ryan Ellis, where Major Farlow’s medals, uniform, maps and other memorabilia are now permanently held as a testament of courage under fire.

It is soldiers and officers like Major Farlow who give the Royal Corps of Signals its crucial advantage, applying old and cutting edge technology, driven by a constant desire to get the battle winning messages through, irrespective of the demanding environment in which they have to operate.”

At El Alamein – Churchill’s “end of the beginning” – Major Farlow was establishing crucial communication lines, ensuring Montgomery’s forces could coordinate effectively during this pivotal North African campaign. The work was dangerous, technical, and essential to Allied victory.

The full citation for his MBE reveals the extraordinary courage behind his award: “In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during 1942. Captain R H Farlow, an officer commanding No. 1 Indian Construction Section, was employed on the construction of an overhead route between Bagush and Daba from 12th April to 29th June 1942, which was becoming of increasing importance due to the situation forward. No accurate maps of the minefields were available. Captain Farlow first walked through the minefields alone and then led his section through. The ground covered by the projected route was very hard, and a compressor was not immediately available. He stripped mines personally, and with the explosive so obtained, he himself blasted holes for poles for several miles.”

This wasn’t just technical expertise – it was leadership by example of the highest order. Walking alone through unmapped minefields, then leading his diverse unit through the same treacherous terrain, Major Farlow embodied the “first in, last out” ethos of the Royal Signals whilst literally building the infrastructure that would enable Allied communications.

But perhaps most remarkably, Major Farlow led a Signals Training Unit that was unique in combining members of different religions and castes from all corners of India as one cohesive unit. According to Christine’s mother’s memoirs from 1937-1947 – one of the few records of Army wives’ experiences held at the Royal Signals Museum – her father was immensely proud to lead this multi-religious, multicultural group. His ability to earn their unwavering loyalty speaks to extraordinary communication skills and cultural sensitivity that transcended the social barriers of the era.

The courage to challenge conventions runs deep in this family. Major Farlow broke centuries of family naval tradition – his lineage traced back to admirals from Devonport – by joining the Royal Signals to work with horses. At just 15, he lied about his age to enlist, drawn by his dream of working with the horse-drawn cable wagons that were essential to early military communications.

His passion for horses continued throughout his service. The Royal Signals’ magazine, The Wire, celebrated his achievements with mounted units. In September 1943, they featured Lance-Sergeant Farlow on his horse Whistler, having won first prize at the Aldershot Show for “best trained Troop horse.” By 1954, now Major Farlow MBE, he was leading the Singapore District Championships team to victory in the FARELF Inter-Services Championships, with The Wire praising his “industry and enthusiasm for ‘the cause'” that had “not flagged since the beginning of the season.”

“He was the real rebel,” reflects Christine, “a little bit like me, not accepting the orthodox route.”

Christine’s own rebellion came decades later, when she broke the stereotypical roles for women in the 1970s, rising through corporate ranks to become a senior executive before founding her own consultancy, Prime Objectives, at 50.

There’s something profound in how both father and daughter approached seemingly impossible challenges. When asked about overcoming obstacles, Christine’s response is telling: “I haven’t overcome barriers because I don’t see them. You see the goal in the distance, you know that’s where you’re heading, and you just set off to reach your destination.”This mirrors her father’s approach to commanding across cultural divides – focusing on the mission and treating people with respect rather than seeing differences as insurmountable obstacles.

“It’s communication without barriers because we don’t see the barriers,” Christine explains.

The communication theme becomes even more personal when you learn that Major Farlow, wanting a son, called his daughter ‘Bill’. Everyone – family, friends, colleagues – knew her as Bill.

“My father is quoted as saying, ‘I don’t care what anyone else calls it. I’m going to call it Bill.’ And he did,” Christine recalls from her recent interview at the Royal Signals Museum.

It wasn’t until her late thirties that Christine reclaimed her own name and, with it, her true voice. This personal transformation mirrored her professional evolution from corporate employee to entrepreneur to international speaker and author.

Christine’s approach to change facilitation isn’t just intuitive – it’s structured. Her proprietary SELF model (Situation, Emotions, Logic, Focus) has been validated through decades of practice across multiple continents, helping leaders navigate everything from conflict resolution to rapid team expansion.

Like her father’s methodical approach to establishing communication networks under fire, Christine drills down to core issues rather than getting distracted by surface symptoms. Her “Flash Point Transformation” methodology recognises that sustainable change happens when people reach their own conclusions rather than having solutions imposed upon them.

The parallels are striking. Major Farlow maintained vital communication links during wartime, whilst Christine has spent her career helping people and organisations communicate effectively during their own challenging transformations.

“It seems we were both rebels together”, Christine observes, “and both communication specialists as well. Almost communication pioneers, really, when you look at his achievements and mine.”

Her client testimonials echo the loyalty her father inspired:

“Christine is a guru in change and brings about results in both organisations and personal lives of people. Her demeanour is calm, respectful, wise and down-to-earth.” – Belia Nel, CEO of Improvid

“My sessions with Christine were career changing because she really thought about my situation, adapted to my own learning style and genuinely could not have been more supportive.” – James Prior, Head of Solutions

Now in her 80s, Christine embodies her own philosophy: “I refuse to let a number on my birthday card determine the life I am going to live.” Her recent five-year modelling contract, her continued speaking engagements, and her award-winning book “Flashpoint Transformation” prove that transformation is possible at any age.

Her father’s medals now rest in the Royal Signals Museum alongside his uniform and operational maps – a testament to courage under fire. But his greatest legacy may be the communication skills he passed on to his daughter, who continues to bridge divides and facilitate understanding across cultures and generations.

Christine often demonstrates the complexity of communication with a simple question: “What has a long nose and big furry ears?” The answers vary wildly – elephant, anteater, rabbit – proving that even simple words create different pictures in different minds.

“These are simple words that form a picture in the mind of the other person, which you have no control over,” she explains. “So conflict resolution starts with understanding that there is another point of view.”

This insight, perhaps inherited from a father who successfully led across religious and cultural divides, remains at the heart of Christine’s work today.

From the desert communications of El Alamein to boardrooms across four continents, the Farlow family legacy is one of breaking barriers through courage, respect, and clear communication. Major Farlow earned loyalty by treating all his men with dignity regardless of their background. Christine earns trust by helping organisations see beyond their assumptions to find common ground.

Both understood that real communication isn’t about transmitting information – it’s about building bridges between differences.

Today, Christine carries forward her father’s legacy of courage in communication. Whether helping executives navigate change or demonstrating that 84 can be the beginning of a new adventure, she proves that some barriers exist only in our minds.

The signals may have evolved from horse-drawn cables to digital networks, but the fundamental mission remains the same: connecting people, bridging divides, and ensuring the message gets through.

Christine continues her work as a speaker, facilitator and award-winning author. Her book “Flashpoint Transformation: Life’s Choices – Ready to Jump or Waiting to be Pushed?” is available in physical, PDF, and audiobook formats. For speaking engagements and work enquiries, please contact Christine directly at: cmarsh@primeobjectives.com