The steam trawler Fleming was built by Cook, Welton & Gemmill in 1929 for F&T Ross of Hull. On Aug. 15, 1934 she ran down and sank the motor fishing vessel Boys Own, the accident was deemed to have been the fault of the Fleming, fortunately no lives were lost.

In August of 1939 the 35 ton trawler was requisitioned by the Admiralty for use as a minesweeper. Her last day came on January 24, 1940 when HMT Fleming and another M/S trawler HMT Berberis were in the Thames Estuary when they were attacked by four German aircraft. The Germans split up and two aircraft attacked each vessel. Bombs soon hit Fleming amidships and she quickly sank. The gunners on Berberis reportedly shot down one of the aircraft and possibly damaged a second.

Nineteen of Fleming's crew were lost in the attack, the survivors, including the skipper, were picked up by HM Trawler Corena. I have been able to locate just this small amount of information on this event, but I am sure there is far more of a story here. Several men were decorated for "courage and resource in repelling enemy
air attacks", two in Fleming and four in Berberis. Their exact actions are unknown, but must have been quite courageous.