By 1943 the Romsey Advertiser was on its third manager-reporter since the outbreak of World War II.

The first one, Philip Lovell, had been conscripted and joined the R.A.F. He was a local man whose contributions included a lively column of comments on local events. After he joined up in April 1940, he sent occasional pieces based on his war experience, including one from Singapore, where he had met a number of clergymen who had had associations with Romsey Abbey.

In April 1940 newsprint rationing was introduced and the Advertiser was reduced from 8 to 6 pages, albeit broadsheet size, but by the end of June the paper was down to four pages.

Lovell was replaced by a much older man, Mr Cyril. J. Tong, whose previous post had been with the Brecon and Radnor Express. Tong lacked Lovell’s sparkle but was conscientious and accurate in his reporting and appreciated locally. The lack of sparkle may have arisen because of his poor health. He died in February 1943.

In May 1943, Victor Soanes was appointed in Tong’s place. Soanes was described as ‘a London journalist’. He wrote in a lively way but made silly mistakes for example calling Greatbridge Road ‘Greatbridge Street’.

These three men all lived in the town during their association with the paper. Under Soanes the Advertiser office was moved to the town centre from 24 Winchester Road. He had great trouble getting a telephone installed which he complained about in the paper.

Soanes was still in post in August 1945 when the war ended. He was assisted by a local man, Stan Symes, a member of an illustrious and well-established Romsey family. Although a few photographs had appeared before the war, virtually none are to be found during war time.

The Advertiser suffered from another major blow to its personnel. In December 1942, the owner of the Andover Advertiser and the Romsey Advertiser, Alfred Holmes, passed away at the age of 72. In 1877, his father, Charles Holmes, had bought the business that included the Andover Advertiser. Alfred grew up in the trade, and after gaining experience elsewhere, returned to Andover in 1900 to help his father and brother expand the business. The Romsey Advertiser title had been created in 1896 and the Holmes established it as a separate newspaper in July 1901, which it has remained to this day, with both papers passing together though several owners and now part of the Echo group.