She was one of a small fleet of ships that Yeoward Brothers ran between Liverpool and the Canary Islands, importing fruit to Britain, and carrying passengers in both directions.

[1] The Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company in Dundee built Aguila as yard number 209.

U-28 continued to shell the ship as the boats were being launched, and then fired one torpedo, which sank her 47 nautical miles (87 km) southwest of the Smalls Lighthouse.

[7][8][9] Six members of Aguila's complement were killed, including her Chief Engineer and a stewardess.

[7] Some hours later another trawler, St. Stephen, found the fourth boat, and landed survivors at Milford Haven.