@array = sort{(split(/\s/,$a))[1] cmp (split(/\s/,$b))[1]} @array;

##</code><code>##

2755	home
444	home/backup	appletest.txt
444	home/backup	dhl.txt
444	home/support	appletest.bat
2755	bin
755	bin/backup	env.txt
755	bin/support	arc.bat
755	bin/backup	aus.txt
2755 	etc	
644	etc/backup	appletest.txt
644	etc/support	arc.bat
644	etc/support	dhl.bat
644	etc/support	env.bat