Since 1873 the 24th Regiment had been recruiting mainly from Welsh border counties, and in that year the Regimental Depot was established in Brecon. It was therefore logical that in 1881, when the whole Army was given territorial titles, it should assume the title of The South Wales Borderers. Shortly after this the Volunteer Battalions of Monmouthshire, as well as those of Brecknock and Radnor, were affiliated to the Regiment.

After 'Black Week' in December 1899, the 2nd Battalion was sent to South Africa. The Anglo-Boer War also gave a first-ever chance of active overseas service to the Volunteer and Militia units of the South Wales Borderers. The success of the volunteers saw the creation of the Monmouthshire Regiment (TF) in 1908 from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Volunteer Battalions.