Northumbrian Woodland Burials and Crematoriumis a 38-acre natural burial ground and crematorium near Morpeth, offering a peaceful, eco-friendly alternative to traditional funerals. Located off the A1 at Bockenfield Wood, it is a family-run site designed for natural burials, ash scattering in Merlin Wood, and cremation services.
Northumberland Woodland Burial & Crematorium wanted to document an important moment in the history of its site: the unveiling of a replica Supermarine Spitfire R6762 on land that once formed part of RAF Eshott.
The aircraft commemorates Norwegian pilot Sergeant Kai Arthur Knagenhjelm, who was killed alongside American pilot First Lieutenant Anthony L. Serapiglia in a mid-air collision near Eshott on 12 April 1944.
The challenge was to create a short film that captured the significance of the occasion while telling the story with the sensitivity and respect it deserved. As well as documenting the memorial ceremony itself, the film needed to connect the aircraft, the people behind it and the site’s wartime heritage.
Wax Digital filmed the commemorative event at Northumberland Woodland Burial & Crematorium, capturing the arrival and unveiling of the replica Spitfire alongside the ceremony attended by RAF cadets, veterans, guests and members of the local community.
Rather than simply recording the day, we approached the project as a short heritage film, combining footage of the aircraft and ceremony with the story of R6762 and the young pilots whose lives were lost.
Careful editing, pacing, music and atmospheric footage helped create a reflective tone, allowing the history to remain at the centre of the film without overdramatising the subject.
We worked closely with the client throughout the production to ensure the finished piece accurately represented both the historical significance of RAF Eshott and the purpose of the new memorial.
Northumbrian Woodland Burials and Crematorium
The finished film provides Northumberland Woodland Burial & Crematorium with a lasting record of an important moment in the site’s history.
More than an event video, it helps preserve and communicate the story behind Spitfire R6762, connecting today’s visitors with the people and events associated with RAF Eshott during the Second World War.
The film now forms part of the client’s wider storytelling around the memorial, helping ensure that the story of Sergeant Knagenhjelm, First Lieutenant Serapiglia and those who served at Eshott continues to be remembered.