Wilt starts at the bottom and works upwards. So if you Clematis began dying from the top down then it is not Wilt. By the way Wilt is actually rather less common than people think.
Looks more like wind damage to me.

Was going to say the same. Probably wind damage. Much more likely than wilt. Even when the clematis is damaged at the base of the stem its more likely to be slugs or earwigs than wilt. Cut the stem right back to where it is healthy, even if that is at ground level, and new shoots should grow. Just hate when this happens. :(

Thank you both - so helpful. The wind is a problem on our hill but I never thought of that as the culprit. In a way I'm glad as it's a year old and had got going really well. I shall follow your advice.

Oh, you're welcome..join the club. In fact when I read your question I sighed at the thought of all the damage that will have been done to my clematis today. I absolutely love them but really shouldn't grow them here, we are far too exposed. :( But I am ever the optimist when it comes to plants :)

It's been a shocker in the last 6 months - the wind, I
mean .One plus though: the washing gets dry quickly (as long as it doesn't disappear over the garden fence.)

I can't get mine up in this Ange....it ends up in the field! lol!

!

I know the RHS has changed their information in respect of Clematis wilt and its somewhat different to what I was taught years ago - the link below is the latest info

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=125

Thanks Bamboo...checking this out now...