In 1914 the Battalion was very much made up of men from Abercarn, Blaenavon, Crumlin, Cwmbran, Llanhilleth, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool, with its headquarters at Pontypool. The ages and experiences of the Battalion varied considerably from the boy soldier right through to the veteran of the Boer War.

The 2 nd Mons were one of only a small number of Territorial Battalions to have been granted the 1914 Star. They were mobilised for active service on August 4 th 1914 and remained on active service in Germany with the Army of Occupation until May 1919. In November 1914, the Battalion entered the trenches near the Belgium Town of Ypres. Large numbers of the soldiers had served underground and it was not long before the Battalion became well known for its efficiency in trench building. They had the honour of obtaining the first Distinguished Conduct Medal to be granted to a Territorial Unit. Their honours list is probably as large as any Territorial Battalion. The number of men that served with the Battalion is believed to be 180 Officers and over 3,900 men. As the war progressed the nature of the Battalion changed as the number of dead and wounded began to grow. New drafts filling the ranks often came from other counties across the country.

This story is very much of the ordinary man who served their country on the battlefields of the Western Front. Leaving behind parents, wives, children and loved ones, often never to be seen again or returning with experiences that truly affected them for the duration of their lives. The book provides both an insight and a memorial to those who served with the 2 nd Battalion The Monmouthshire Regiment. The book contains information from a variety of sources including local newspapers, the Battalion war diary, personal diaries of soldiers and other letters from the time. Providing a moving account of the experiences and sacrifices made by those who served. Photographs and maps are used through out the book to illustrate the text. The book is £12.95 in hardback, contains 120 pages and over 140 photographs.