. . . you may meet ordinary Irishmen dressing up as soldiers from the second World War, writes Ali Bracken

Two original second World War buggies, complete with fully uniformed German and Allied soldiers brandishing rifles, approach us on the outskirts of Kilclooney Wood in Co Waterford. The men's Irish accents are the only giveaway that a drive in the countryside hasn't transported us back in time to the war's frontline.

The men are members of a civilian group specialising in the collection and restoration of wartime German and Allied vehicles and weapons. They put on occasional public displays, and today they are our guides. We follow them by car deep into the wood where more "soldiers" with weaponry in various wartime vehicles lie in wait.

I clamber on to one of the bigger trucks, a British army vehicle from the second World War. "War is 90 per cent boredom, 5 per cent crap and 5 per cent terror," a man dressed as a US private tells me in mock-seriousness, as the truck trundles along into possible enemy territory. They show me their guns - all deactivated and registered - and let me try on their helmets.

As we arrive at a large clearing, I notice three sets of men dressed as soldiers milling around, checking out each other's wartime paraphernalia. It seems relations between the Germans, Americans and British are surprisingly good. Three "generals", American, German and British, stand in a huddle. The "American" is from Galway and represents Battle Group West, the "German general" is a Corkman and founded Battle Group South, or Kampfgruppe Sud, and the "British general" is from Waterford and represents Waterford Military Club.

As a collective, they form the Munster Military Vehicle and Re-enactment Group. They specialise in the collection and restoration of wartime German and Allied vehicles and weapons.

Emmet Kennedy, the "British general", says he began collecting London Irish Rifles vehicles and equipment in recognition of the 50,000 Irish soldiers who fought in the second World War.

Battle Group South has recently adopted German Fallschirmjaeger (paratroopers) into their ranks but remain predominantly an SS re-enactment group. They are a "living history" group.

"No, the German soldiers are not dressed in Nazi uniform. They were not Nazis," Joe O'Toole, the German general, is at pains to stress. And in Kilclooney Wood there isn't a Nazi emblem in sight.

"The German army during the second World War was the Wehrmacht. The Nazis were the political wing and controlled the army but got involved in very little combat. Many of the German soldiers during the second World War had no choice but to fight. The good men of the German army were lost and they were all tarnished because of a small group of Nazis."

Kennedy agrees, saying: "We have a very simplified version of history. People automatically think Nazi when they think German army."

"We do not support or hold any political beliefs or subscribe to any neo-Nazi movement whatsoever," adds O'Toole, and on this point the three men are united. That means none of the Nazi salutes then?

"No way," says O'Toole. "The German army never would have done the Nazi salute anyway. We do not encourage anything like that."

The re-enactment group, which has some 50 members, has never had to expel a member or even had an undesirable person interested in joining. Battle Group South is aware that because it collects German second World War vehicles and weaponry, people could jump to the wrong conclusions. But the group's stance is clearly outlined in a disclaimer on its website: "We do not take nutters, political activists or neo-Nazis."

Generally, a probation period of one year is needed and each club passes a vote at its agm on acceptance of new members. As Nazism is such a sensitive subject, you can never be too careful, they all agree.

"We're not glorifying war," points out the "US general", Aidan Darcy. "We're just honouring it."

Between them, the group owns three armoured tanks, but as they are difficult to transport, none is on show at Kilclooney Wood when I visit. But there is an array of restored wartime buggies, trucks, motorcycles complete with sidecars, rifles, sub-machine guns, anti-aircraft guns and other weaponry being enthusiastically exhibited by 30 or so men dressed as German and Allied soldiers. Most of the weaponry was used in second World War combat.

The age profile varies from the middle-aged "generals" to men in their 20s and 30s. There are even a few teenagers. Big boys' toys is my first thought - there's not a woman in sight. "We have asked women to join," says Darcy, laughing, "but none of them will come near us."

The group started as enthusiastic collectors of second World War vehicles and weaponry, but as their collections as well as their clubs grew, they began collaborating, putting on public displays in Ireland and abroad two years ago. In June it has an annual event at Duncannon fort in Wexford, where it stages a re-enactment battle. The winner alternates each year, just to keep things fair.

"Last year, the Americans won and everybody booed. It'll be our turn this year," says O'Toole happily. The group has travelled to Normandy, "under the Irish military flag", and the three "generals" have travelled throughout the Continent to add to their extensive collection.

They are more involved in public displays than re-enactments, explains the German general, as there is stringent legislation in Ireland that forbids the blank firing of weapons, making the staging of re-enactments very difficult.

Occasionally, they carry out army-style drills during public displays, says Kennedy, "but we are not an alternative army for the country".

The "German general" is actually a fireman, the Yank is a paramedic and the "British general" works in the shipping industry. Clearly something has to pay for the upkeep of this expensive pastime.

"That German army motorcycle over there," says O'Toole, "cost about €35,000. That's another thing that would prevent undesirables from joining. The money separates the men from the boys."

Four members of Battle Group South recently clubbed together to purchase a second World War German tank, which featured in the 2001 film Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

"It's a half-track armoured vehicle with heavy machine guns on the back," O'Toole says. "We plan to make it available for films and television so we can make our money back."

The three "generals" say they don't want the club to expand much further, as they like to keep it personal and among friends. Proud of their specialist hobby, they are also keenly aware it is somewhat offbeat. As Joe O'Toole puts it: "It ain't the GAA."

See www.battlegroupsouth.com and www.waterfordmilitary.com