Elephant and Castle Mob
Encyclopedia
The Elephant and Castle Mob was one of the many independent street gangs active in London's underworld during the interwar years. A rival of mobster Charles "Darby" Sabini
along with the Birmingham Boys
and the Cortesi brothers of Saffron Hill
, they were eventually forced out by Sabini with the added manpower of imported Sicilian mafiosi and had disappeared from the city the end of the Second World War.
The Elephant and Castle gang existed for many years and was particularly active between the two world wars. At that time they were allied to the Birmingham gang, often called the Brummagems, led by Billy Kimber; the Camden Town gang, led by George Sage and the Finsbury Boys, led by Freddie Gilbert. The gangs rivalled those from north and east London led by Darby Sabini, Alf White, Alf Solomon and Dodger Mullins.
The gang achieved dominance on the race courses and in London's West End by conquering the West End Boys, led by the McCausland brothers, and the King's Cross/Titanic gang led by Alf White. From the 1910s to the 1930s, they were led by the McDonald brothers, Wag and Wal, and battled the Sabini gang for control of allocation of bookmaking pitches on racecourses and the provision of 'services' to bookmakers who were terrorised into paying for them.
Wag McDonald left London for Los Angeles
, where he became bodyguard to Mafia boss Jack Dragna
in the 1920s and to many Hollywood celebrities, including Charlie Chaplin
. His life story is told by his nephew Brian McDonald in Elephant Boys - Tales of London and Los Angeles Underworlds, Mainstream 2000.
Gangs of London, by Brian McDonald, has much on the Elephant and Castle Gang, including the all-female Forty Elephants.
Charles Sabini
Charles Sabini commonly known as Darby Sabini, was a British criminal of mixed Italian and English parentage who, as leader of the Sabinis and 'king of the racecourse gangs', dominated the London underworld and racecourses throughout the south of England for much of the early twentieth century...
along with the Birmingham Boys
Birmingham Boys
The Birmingham Boys was a street gang prominent in London's underworld during the 1920s, rivaling Sicilian mafiosi Darby Sabini for control of horse racing and other illegal gambling activities in southeastern England..-Further reading:...
and the Cortesi brothers of Saffron Hill
Saffron Hill
Saffron Hill is the name of a street in the south eastern corner of the London Borough of Camden, between Farringdon Road and Hatton Garden. The name of the street derives from the fact that it was at one time part of an estate on which saffron grew....
, they were eventually forced out by Sabini with the added manpower of imported Sicilian mafiosi and had disappeared from the city the end of the Second World War.
The Elephant and Castle gang existed for many years and was particularly active between the two world wars. At that time they were allied to the Birmingham gang, often called the Brummagems, led by Billy Kimber; the Camden Town gang, led by George Sage and the Finsbury Boys, led by Freddie Gilbert. The gangs rivalled those from north and east London led by Darby Sabini, Alf White, Alf Solomon and Dodger Mullins.
The gang achieved dominance on the race courses and in London's West End by conquering the West End Boys, led by the McCausland brothers, and the King's Cross/Titanic gang led by Alf White. From the 1910s to the 1930s, they were led by the McDonald brothers, Wag and Wal, and battled the Sabini gang for control of allocation of bookmaking pitches on racecourses and the provision of 'services' to bookmakers who were terrorised into paying for them.
Wag McDonald left London for Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he became bodyguard to Mafia boss Jack Dragna
Jack Dragna
Jack Ignatius Dragna was an American Mafia member and Black Hander who was active in both Italy and the United States in the 1900s. He was active in bootlegging in California during the Prohibition Era in the United States...
in the 1920s and to many Hollywood celebrities, including Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
. His life story is told by his nephew Brian McDonald in Elephant Boys - Tales of London and Los Angeles Underworlds, Mainstream 2000.
Gangs of London, by Brian McDonald, has much on the Elephant and Castle Gang, including the all-female Forty Elephants.