'Goon Show' star, author, comedian, campaigner for animal rights and the environment, Spike Milligan who died in February 2002, aged 83 years old, will also be remembered for his life long battle with depression.

Regarded by many as a comic genius and credited with changing the face of British comedy in the 1950s in the 'Goon Show', Milligan also fought in World War II.

In 1993 he co-wrote a book 'Depression and how to survive it' with psychiatrist Anthony Clare.

In the book Milligan stated 'only when you know what it is like to be depressed, to feel you are dying inside, can you know what it is like to be suicidal, to think that the whole dreadful, nagging, awful pain of it all might be swept away by a simple, single act of self-destruction'.

Millgan was a frequent visitor to Australia, where his parents and young brother lived in Woy Woy, New South Wales.

But it is Milligan's answer to the question what epitaph he wanted on his grave that reflects his true cutting wit. He replied -'I told you I was ill'.