Shortly after the outbreak of war Umgeni was taken over by the British Naval Authorities for use as a squadron supply ship and served in this capacity until April 1916, after which she was used mainly as a collier.

In November 1917 she left the Island of Arran bound for Lagos and proceeded in convoy with several other vessels.

When off the west coast of Ireland heavy weather arose; the ships parted company and Umgeni was never seen again. Bodies and wreckage were eventually washed ashore but how the vessel met her end was never established for no one lived to tell the tale.