the point is is it normal to get your majors and colonels to guard the coffin 24/7 ? what about other countries ?
I believe that military tradition indicates that the rank of the vigil guards be the same as the deceased, for example: the corporal (and I worked briefly, on per diem, where his mother was working) who was shot by some "deranged" individual in Ottawa, had corporals and sergeants as vigil guards.
Therefore, it would appear for an esteemed and dedicated PM, and well known senior statesman, like LKY, it would be incumbent on the government to have very senior officers to to stand as vigil guards.