In reply to guest Longwoods. the Elephant John was John O'Donoghue from Cashaliveen Co. Kerry. He was his townie, John Murphy's henchman and he passed away in 1997. The song where he is mentioned in was called Murphy's Volunteers and it was about Irishmen working in the sewers of London during the Nazi Blitz. The first verse goes.

    Come on, Come On cried the Elephant John
    and swing that mighty pick,
    this aint no place for invalids,
    the crippled or the sick
    forget the Germans overhead sure they're only messing about
    now come on Pat and bend that back
    and dig those trenches out.

There has been many stories circulated about the abuse the Elephant gave men. But having worked in construction all my life I know many of these tales can grow legendary tales down the years.