The British India Steam Navigation Company (BI) owned and operated her until 1940, when she was bombed by a German aircraft and burnt out.

Andrew Weir & Company managed her for the MoS, and for its successor the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), until a U-boat sank her with all hands in 1942.

In the First World War, BI lost four nearly new "M" class twin-screw cargo liners to enemy action.

[3] Barclay, Curle launched yard number 577 in July 1920 as Mashobra, and completed her that October with a pair of triple expansion engines like her predecessors.

[4] It launched yard number 580 in October 1920 as Manela, and completed her in May 1921 with two sets of three-stage Brown-Curtis steam turbines.

[10] By contrast, BI ordered five more "M" class turbine steamships, all to the same increased length as Modasa, which were delivered in 1921 and 1922.

[3] As built, the combined power output of Domala's twin diesel engines was rated at 963 NHP.

[15] Domala began her maiden voyage on 30 December 1921, reaching Bombay (now Mumbai), India on 27 January 1922.

[18] On 6 October 1927 Domala collided with the British cargo steamship Sagama River in the Humber, severely damaging her.

[9] On 2 March 1940 a Heinkel He 111H of Kampfgeschwader 26, flown by Martin Harlinghausen, attacked Domala off St Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight.

[22] The Dutch steamship Jong Willem rescued 50 survivors,[9] aided by the destroyer HMS Viscount, and Avro Anson aircraft of 48 Squadron.

[citation needed] Surgeon Lieutenant MacDonald was mentioned in dispatches for his zeal and devotion to duty, and skill in attending the wounded.

[24] Domala's Chief Officer, William Brawn, and a Cadet, Bernard John Duval, were awarded the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct.

At great risk to himself, Cadet Duval, a lad of seventeen, gave a fine example of bravery, doing all he could to save his second officer's life".

[29] On 6 March, Manny Shinwell MP asked in the House of Commons why Domala did not use her DEMS guns to defend herself.

At 1645 hrs on 10 July she broke down for the seventh time, and the sloop HMS Pelican signalled to the Admiralty that by sunset Domala was not within 20 nautical miles (37 km) of the convoy.

[37] At 03:30 hrs CET on 15 July, Empire Attendant was off the coast of Río de Oro, Spanish Sahara, when U-582 sank her by torpedo at position 23°48′N 21°51′W / 23.800°N 21.850°W / 23.800; -21.850.

[35] Empire Attendant's crew is commemorated on panel 38 of the Second World War monument at Tower Hill Memorial.