In 1908 the Local Volunteers were organised into the Territorial Force. They were composed of volunteers that would train as soldiers on a part-time basis. These men had no obligation to serve overseas, the principal role envisaged for them in time of war, was home defence. However the duties of members of the Territorial Force increased and they were expected to undertake a musketry course, 20 drills and an annual training camp of 15 days. At this time the 3rd Volunteer Battalion South Wales Borderers were renamed the 2nd Battalion The Monmouthshire Regiment.

On August 4th 1914 the British Government declared war on Germany, who had rejected a British ultimatum that their army did not cross into Belgium. At this time Britain had no troops on continental Europe. The army that Britain sent to France in 1914 was known as the British Expeditionary Force and consisted of around 100,00 men. On August 7th 1914, in an attempt to increase the number of British soldiers under arms Field Marshall Sir Herbert Kitchener called for 100,000 volunteers to join the British Army.

Orders to mobilize the 2nd Battalion The Monmouthshire Regiment were received on the 5th August, and the following day the Battalion entrained for Pembroke Dock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Mons at Camp in 1911.