Jan 21, 1942, is a bittersweet date for lawyer Mary Pereira.

That was the day her father, a World War II civil-defence volunteer, was killed in Japanese air raids. It was also the day that her shell-shocked mother gave birth to her in an air-raid shelter, as bombs fell like rain outside.

"We were homeless after that night of bombing. I didn't know it at the time, but my mum told me that whole buildings were destroyed and our flat was taken over," said Ms Pereira.

Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: ST)