In 1940 she was sold to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Buffalo.

[4] In 1940, Empire Buffalo was recorded on Lloyds Register as having a GRT of 6,404 and a NRT of 4,618.

[6] Eglantine served with Lykes Brothers until 1940 when she was sold to the MoWT and renamed Empire Buffalo.

[9] Convoy SC 71 departed Halifax, Nova Scotia on 22 February 1942 and arrived at Liverpool on 10 March.

Empire Buffalo was carrying general cargo bound for Newport, Monmouthshire.

[10] At 22:25 German time on 6 May 1942, Empire Buffalo was torpedoed by U-125 and sunk west of the Cayman Islands (19°14′N 82°34′W / 19.233°N 82.567°W / 19.233; -82.567).

Twenty-nine survivors were rescued by SS Cacique and landed at Kingston, Jamaica.

[11] Those lost on Empire Buffalo are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial, London.