Soldiers Three

by Rudyard Kipling

"Soldiers Three" by Rudyard Kipling is a collection of short stories published in 1888. The work centers on three British soldiers—Learoyd, Mulvaney, and Ortheris—serving in Afghanistan during the twilight of the British Empire. Through their adventures and unvarnished commentary, these enlisted men reveal the raw realities of colonial warfare in central Asia. The stories capture a side of the British Tommy rarely seen, as the soldiers act foolishly, critique their superiors, and confront the brutal truths of imperial military life.