Alexander Stephen and Sons of Linthouse in Glasgow, Scotland launched her on 18 June 1905 for the British and African Steam Navigation Company, which appointed group company Elder Dempster & Co to manage her on their Liverpool-West Africa trades. In 1916 during the First World War the UK Admiralty chartered her as a troopship. On 21 February 1917 a large cargo steamship, , collided with her in the English Channel south of the Isle of Wight. "Mendi" sank killing 646 people, most of whom were black South African troops. The new port admin building at the Port of Ngqura, South Africa, has been named eMendi in commemoration of the SS Mendi.