Michael Farrell, of Blackwood, but born in Dublin, served with the 7th (Service) Battalion Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers) in France in 1916. In early September 1916 the battalion was part of 16th (Irish) Division at the Battle of Guillemont, an offensive phase of the Somme Campaign, near the town of Albert.

On 4 and 5 September part of the division helped to capture Leuze ('Lousy') Wood to the north of the village of Guillemont after fierce fighting. On 5 September his battalion relieved the Devonshire Regiment on the muddy south west edge of the wood.

Private M Farrell (22104) was killed in action on 5 September 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, a memorial to those with no known grave who fell in the Somme Sector, Picardy.