On the afternoon of the 4 Sept 1931, the Lifeboat Secretary received a telephone call stating five (5) people were stranded in their houses in Ruswarp (a village on the River Esk two miles upstream from Whitby) as the river was in flood and was 4 metres above its normal high water level and there were grave concerns for the safety of the householders.

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The Lifeboat RNLB Jacob and Rachel Vallentine and its crew were quickly assembled under the command of Coxswain Joseph Tomlinson and with the aid dozens of helpers and two teams of horses the boat was hauled on its carriage from the Bandstand to Ruswarp High Street where it was launched near the Chainbridge. The crew rowed the Lifeboat upstream then dropped the boat's anchor and 'veered' down on the first cottage where and successfully rescued a lady, they then rowed on to another cottage where saving two further ladies (one aged 90 years) from the upper floor windows. Two further persons were rescued from Mill House. The boat then returned to the safety of Ruswarp High Street. .

The Lifeboat was left on the High Street overnight being recovered and returned to its Boathouse the following day.

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