sentences:  Initially these were militias in support of British regulars, but British military support for the colonies ended in 1870, and the colonies assumed their own defence.The separate colonies maintained control over their respective militia forces and navies until 1 March 1901, when the colonial forces were all amalgamated into the Commonwealth Forces following the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia.Colonial forces, including home raised units, saw action in many of the conflicts of the British Empire during the 19th century.