Afon Alaw was built by Alexander Stephen and Sons at their yard in Glasgow for Hughes & Co based at Menai Bridge in Anglesey.

Norway was neutral during World War I, however the German surface raider SMS Wolf did not want its position known and sank Storebror on 4 January 1918 to prevent the Norwegian ship from disclosing it.

In 1904, the ship was sold to another company from Liverpool, Barque Cambrian Warrior Ltd, and again in 1911 to County Sg Co Ltd.[1] In 1915, Afon Alaw was sold again to A/S Excelsior, renamed Storebror and registered in Kristiansand, Norway.

[1] On 4 January 1918 Storebror was sailing from Beira to Montevideo, Uruguay in ballast when the German raider SMS Wolf came upon the ship.

[1] The German warship did not want its position announced and sank the neutral-flagged Storebror at 17°32′S 26°50′W / 17.533°S 26.833°W / -17.533; -26.833.