Ernest William Snary and his twin brother Horace were born at Whissendine on 21 September 1897, the youngest children of Harry and Sarah Snary. He was known as William rather than Ernest. His twin and his elder brother Harry also fought in the First World War but survived. (Ernest) William attended the village school until he was fifteen, where, according to George Phillips in Rutland and the Great War: "He endeared himself to his teachers by his exemplary conduct and attention to his work. On leaving school, he went as assistant to Mr Grocock, Grocer, Whissendine, and was known to the villagers, and all round as a very obliging boy. He was a member of the Whissendine Cricket Club, and a very promising cricketer." He joined the army on 6 September 1916, and went to France on 8 February 1917 with 256th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery. He was killed in action on 4 October during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) by a bursting shell while sheltering in a dug-out. A letter to his parents from the Major in command said: "Gunner Snary was a very popular soldier owing to his cheerfulness and willingness to help his comrades in everything, and all express their condolence with you in your loss." He is buried in Buffs Road Cemetery near Ypres, grave E.3, alongside three other members of his gun crew killed with him. William is remembered on Whissendine's war memorial as well as on a family gravestone in the churchyard. His cousin George Snary was also killed.