For years, Mercedes de Dunewic's mother would light a memorial candle for the victims of the slaughter at Majdanek. She never really knew why.

It was in March 1942 that 60,000 Slovac Jews were forcible marched to Majdanek, a concentration camp built by the Nazis.

In June 1944 the Soviet army liberated the camp, but they were to find that 1.6m Slovac Jews had met their deaths.

The pain of death is real in the de Dunewic family. Mercedes' mother lost two second cousins in Majdenek, and although not knowing them, it was for them that she would light the candles as a memorial.

But now, on Holocaust Remembrance Day on the 27th January, Mercedes continues the remembrance ritual by lighting two candles for two young faceless victims of the slaughter.

It's Mercedes' plan to go to Majdanek to visit the remains of the concentration camp, but meantime, it's just her memorial candle that keeps the flame of life alive in remembrance.

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