[1][3] She was one of 72 cargo vessels built under the authority of Canada's Imperial Munitions Board for wartime service in the First World War, and one of the 46 vessels with hulls built of wood.

Toronto Shipbuilding also constructed a sister wood-hull ship at the same time, the SS War Ontario.

On her voyage across the Atlantic to her owners, she carried lumber to Cardiff, Wales.

She was delivered to the Shipping Controller on 23 April 1919, who assigned her to be managed by Hansen Brothers & Company, Ltd. She was employed carrying coal in civilian service.

She ran aground off Agger, Jutland, on 19 September 1919 while on a voyage from the River Tyne to Sweden.